Dick Vitale releases 2021-22 preseason All-American picks
ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale released his preseason All-American picks on Tuesday. His veteran heavy list includes 25 players, making up five teams heading into the 2021-22 season.
In a controversial move, Vitale opted to exclude freshmen from his preseason All-American team in favor of veterans. He explained the decision in his introduction.
“A lot of people put freshmen on their preseason All-America teams,” Vitale wrote for ESPN. “I believe we have to see them on the collegiate court before we name them All-Americans. I’m sure you will see players like Chet Holmgren of Gonzaga, Jalen Duren of Memphis and Michigan’s Caleb Houstan on the postseason team.”
With the expanded five-team format and no freshmen, there are plenty spots for some of basketball’s brightest stars in Dick Vitale’s preseason All-American team. Here is a look at who made the cut ahead of the 2021-22 season.
Dick Vitale’s Preseason All-Americans
First team
Drew Timme, Gonzaga Bulldogs
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois Fighting Illini
Collin Gillespie, Villanova Wildcats
Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana Hoosiers
Buddy Boeheim, Syracuse Orange
Second team
Hunter Dickinson, Michigan Wolverines
Trevion Williams, Purdue Boilermakers
Johnny Juzang, UCLA Bruins
Max Abmas, Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Julian Champagnie, St. John’s Red Storm
Third team
Ochai Agbaji, Kansas Jayhawks
E.J. Liddell, Ohio State Buckeyes
Jaden Ivey, Purdue Boilermakers
Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA Bruins
Scotty Pippen Jr., Vanderbilt Commodores
Fourth team
Armando Bacot, North Carolina Tar Heels
Marcus Carr, Texas Longhorns
Jaden Shackelford, Alabama Crimson Tide
Andre Curbelo, Illinois Fighting Illini
Remy Martin, Kansas Jayhawks
Fifth team
Mark Williams, Duke Blue Devils
Paul Scruggs, Xavier Musketeers
Nate Watson, Providence Friars
Marcus Sasser, Houston Cougars
Adam Flagler, Baylor Bears
Notes
The Big Ten leads the way with seven preseason All-American selections, followed by the Big 12 and Big East with four each. Schools with multiple players selected include Illinois, Purdue, UCLA and Kansas.
The list also includes two transfers and two others who spent time in the portal before returning. Vitale warns fans to be wary of the immediate impact each transfer will have, stating that, like freshmen, they are an unknown.
“A number of outstanding players opted to return to college, passing on the NBA draft,” Vitale wrote. “There are also several potential All-America selections coming from the transfer portal, but it’s always tough to evaluate players on new teams.”
This mentality explains the absence of any Kentucky players. The freshman and transfer heavy team will need to prove something before making Vitale’s All-American list.
As Vitale points out in his opening statement, these things are subject to change throughout the season. The emergence of freshmen and transfers who picked the right system will certainly shake up the college basketball landscape and make things interesting as March approaches.