The Big 12 preseason basketball awards were handed out today, and West Virginia senior guard Juwan Staten was picked as preseason player of the year. That makes him the headliner of the all Big 12 preseason basketball team.
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Here is the full team:
Georges Niang, F, Iowa State: The 6-7 junior was a dominant inside presence last year on a Cyclone team that made the Sweet 16.
Perry Ellis, F, Kansas: The 6-8 Ellis is the only Jayhawk to grace the preseason all Big 12 first team.
Marcus Foster, G, Kansas State: Foster was the leading scorer on last year’s team that lost to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Buddy Hield, G, Oklahoma: Hield led the Sooners to a number 5 seed last year before being upset by North Dakota State in the dreaded 5-12 matchup.
Juwan Staten, G, West Virginia: Staten led the Mountaineers in points and assists per game, and was second in rebounds.
Honorable mention: Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma; Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State; Jonathan Holmes, Texas; Cameron Ridley, Texas; Isaiah Taylor, Texas
The other preseason Big 12 awards are as follows:
Preseason Player of the Year:
Juwan Staten, G, West Virginia: He was the do-everything catalyst for the Mountaineers last year, and promises to be even better in his senior season.
Preseason Newcomer of the Year:
Bryce Dejean-Jones, G, Iowa State: Dejean-Jones averaged 13.6 points per game last season at UNLV, and graduated in May. That means he still has one year of eligibility left to use immediately in Ames.
Preseason Freshmen of the Year:
Cliff Alexander, F, Kansas: He was a top 5 overall player in the 2014 class, and promises to be the terror inside that Joel Embiid was last year.
Myles Turner, F, Texas: Turner was number 2 overall in the 2014 class, and is an absolute monster. Where he fits with the Longhorns is unclear with Cameron Ridley now in middle, but you can bet they will find a place for the 6-11 standout.
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