I have long believed that an All-America team should consist of five players who could theoretically play together. (Fill out the rest, whatever you want.) But just as NBA franchises no longer value traditional heavyweights, names, images, and likeness rights have become a reality for student-athletes, with many outstanding athletes. A scenario was created in which the university center doubled as a sport. The best repeat customers (and millionaires).
So don’t mind my previous rule.
The three greatest players to return to college basketball this season are Oscar Zibwe (Kentucky), Drew Timm (Gonzaga) and Armando Bako (North Carolina), all of whom are heavyweights. It would be silly to vote for anything other than First Team All-American. And votes from voters are reflected as well, so his three frontcourt stars in the top five preseason teams make up 60% of him on the CBS Sports All-America First Team. Marcus Susser (Houston) and Jamie Jaquez (UCLA) rounded out the first team.
Our three All-America teams are made up of 15 players from 7 different leagues (AAC, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, WCC). The Big East is the only one without a representative on the power board. Tim is the only preseason First Team All-American. Hunter Dickinson (Michigan) and Trace Jackson-Davis (Indiana)—his two other big teams established at Division I level—are on the preseason Second Team his All-Americans for the second year in a row. — Gary Parrish
Note: The CBS Sports preseason All-America team was voted on by college basketball writers from CBS Sports and 247Sports, and broadcasters from CBS and CBS Sports Network.
2022-23 CBS Sports Preseason All-America First Team
Drew Tim | Gonzaga | | Fu | 6-10 | Senior
For the second year in a row, Tim was named a preseason First Team All-America unanimously by CBS Sports. Now in his fourth season, Tim may be the most recognizable face in college basketball. The Gonzaga big man is averaging 18.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists to finish his campaign as the #1 overall junior seed in the NCAA Tournament. With Chetholmgren moving to his NBA, Tim’s output should increase again. He is building his one of the biggest careers in recent college hoops history, and Gonzaga’s national championships rely heavily on Tim’s creativity and dominance while painting. — Matt Norlander
Oskar Zibwe | kentucky | | Fu | 6-9 | Senior
The current National Player of the Year is a central force in Kentucky’s first national title win in over a decade. Tshiebwe became the first player to average 15.0 points and he exceeded 15.0 rebounds in over 40 years, and was the first Kentucky player to win all his major NPOY awards in the program’s history. Tshiebwe’s line: 17.4 points, 15.1 rebounds, 60.6% shooting and 1.6 blocks for him. It is rare to win the Player of the Year award in consecutive seasons. If Zibwe achieves it, he will be the first in men’s basketball history. of Virginia Ralph Sampson hit a 3-peat in the early 80’s. — Minnesota
Armando Baco | north carolina | | Air conditioner | 6-11 | Senior
Another easy thing for our first team. CBS Sports said he was one of his two major media outlets to be named All-American when Bacott was named to his third team at the end of his 2021-21 season. It’s one. His high play in the NCAA Tournament was a big reason. Baccott, who led his game to the UNC title, made history by becoming the first player in tournament history to achieve a double-double in his six tournament games. He averaged 16.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks. His 31 double-doubles were his single-season tie, the most in NCAA history. Carolina tries to win the title around Bako. — Minnesota
Marcus Susser | houston | | Ga | 6-2 | Senior
Houston not only enters the season with the best preseason hopes yet, but can also justifiably claim to boast the best guard in the sport: Sasser is a two-way threat. As a 6-foot-2 combo guard, he averaged 17.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 steals for his team for the Cougars. Susser shot 43.7% of his three points from his range, but played only his first 12 games due to a broken leg. He is now perfectly healthy and is expected to be the alpha of college basketball’s toughest team. — Minnesota
Jaime Jaquez Jr. | UCLA | | G/F | 6-7 | Senior
Our first-team final spot vote was close, but Jaquez won due to the expected and statistical jump in the UCLA team we endorsed to take the Pac-12. Jaquez averaged 13.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Bruins last season. He and Tiger His Campbell are his two returning starters at UCLA, so expect Jaquez’s stats to bloat as the Bruins try to maintain their reputation as a top 10-15 team in the country. will be Jaquez is a bruin to heart and, like Sasser, 1 he is now perfectly healthy after enduring preseason injuries. Jaquez is listed as a guard/forward, but in college hoops he’s actually a great option to play a 2, 3, or 4. — Minnesota
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2022-23 CBS Sports Preseason All-America Second Team
Trace Jackson-Davis | Indiana | | Fu | 6-9 | Senior
Indiana finally advanced to the Big Dance last season for the first time since 2016. Jackson Davis set career highs in points, assists and blocks per 40 minutes, setting his career high. 58.9% from the field. With his four starters returning to his highly anticipated IU team, Jackson-Davis opted to give his one more try before flirting with the NBA, preseason to win Big 10 Player of the Year should enter the season as a favorite. — Kyle Boone
Hunter Dickinson | Michigan | | Sea | 7-1 | Jr.
Last season, Michigan took a step back after being narrowly pushed onto the NCAA Tournament field with a 23-5 record, but Dickinson was quietly sensational as a sophomore. Entering his third season, this burly big man will enter the Big He Ten (a league with frontcourt talent) as a top rebounder at his level in the 2022-23 season. –KB
Kendrick Davis | memphis | | Ga | 6-0 | R-Sr.
just finished his career in SMUs When he was AAC Player of the Year, Davis headed to conference foe Memphis to give the Tigers and coach Penny Hardaway their first superstar point guard in years. After ranking lowest in turnover percentage the last three seasons, he not only offers a steady force at point guard, but the talent to make a difference as a scorer and creator. –KB
Caleb Love | North Carolina | Ga | 6-4 | Jr.
Love was a second-year NCAA Tournament Supernova in North Carolina, running all the way to the title game, scoring 30 in UCLA’s Sweet 16 and 28 in the Final Four vs. Rivals. dukeHe remains the most microwaveable bucket getter in the ACC going into his junior season and should continue to thrive for the Tar Heels playing in a more natural off-ball role next to backcourt mate RJ Davis. is. –KB
Nick Smith | Arkansas | | Ga | 6-5 | Father.
Arkansas, along with Eric Musselman, runs one of the most guard-friendly systems in the country, and Smith, the #1 recruit in the 2022 cycle, stands at what is arguably the biggest opportunity for freshmen in the sport. is stepping into The team lost his 87% of scoring and his 78% of assists from last season’s team advancing to the Elite Eight. Smith will have to carry quite a load in both categories as he seeks to push the Razorbacks to the top of his SEC. — KB
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2022-23 CBS Sports Preseason All-America Third Team
Zach Eady | Purdue | | Sea | 7-4 | Jr.
Purdue’s towering center averaged 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.2. Blocking last season, they will only improve on those numbers while playing more minutes after Trevion Williams leaves. — David Cobb
Adam Flagler | Baylor | | Ga | 6-3 | R-Sr.
Flagler played a key role off the bench for Baylor’s national title team in 2021 and was a star last season, averaging a team-best 13.8 points on 38.7% 3-point shooting. — DC
Keyonte George | Baylor | Ga | 6-4 |
George, who was ranked ninth overall prospect in his class for 2022, is the domestic leader as he steps into the Baylor rotation replacing James Akinjo, Kendall Brown, Jeremy Sochan and Matthew Mayer. You should be one of the most productive freshmen. — DC
Mike Miles Jr. | TCU | | Ga | 6-2 | Jr.
After helping TCU to its first NCAA tournament win since 1987, Miles is no longer in the national spotlight. He’s a major repeater in the Big 12 and a big reason why the Horned Frogs ranked him 14th in his preseason AP Top 25 poll. — DC
Derek Lively II | Duke | See | 7-1 |
As the No. 2 freshman in the nation steps into a Duke lineup returning just one contributor, Lively has a chance to shine on the national stage as the Blue Devils coach transitions from Mike Kushevski to John Scheer. immediately. — DC
