62/62: new plebiscite for Zach Edey. The Purdue center was unanimously named to the All-America First Team on Tuesday, the best five of the NCAA season.
Best player last season, the Canadian has done better than confirm this season with individual figures still on the rise and one of the best records in the history of the Boilermakers (29 victories – 4 defeats). Zach Edey finished the regular season as the NCAA's leading scorer and third-best rebounder.
He is accompanied on the All-America First Team by Dalton Knecht (Tennessee), RJ Davis (North Carolina), Jamal Shead (Houston), and Tristen Newton, defending champion with Connecticut. A five 100% made up of “senior” players, at the end of a season where few freshmen distinguished themselves with regularity.
All-America First Team
Guard: Tristen Newton (Connecticut) | 15.2 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists
Guard: Jama Shead (Houston) | 13.1 points, 6.2 assists, 2.3 steals
Guard: RJ Davis (North Carolina) | 21.4 points at 40.6% from 3-point range, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists
Guard-Forward: Dalton Knecht (Tennessee) | 21.1 points at 46.5% (39.7% at 3-point), 4.7 rebounds
Center: Zach Edey (Purdue) | 24.4 points at 61.9%, 11.7 rebounds, 2.2 blocks
Zach Edey should be chosen in the first round of the Draft thanks to his XXL physique (2m24, around 130 kilos), but also to his finishing qualities and interesting mobility for his size. He could be accompanied in the “lottery” by serial scorer Dalton Knecht, one of the great stories of the season, he who took full advantage of his transfer from North Colorado to Tennessee last summer.
The All-America Second Team is led by Tyler Kolek (Marquette) – best NCAA passer (7.6 assists) – and gives pride of place to interior players with Kyle Filipowski (Duke), Hunter Dickinson (Kansas) and Daron Holmes II (Dayton). Mark Sears (Alabama) completes the quintet. The third best five of the season consists of Jaedon LeDee (San Diego State), undoubtedly the best progression of the year (from 7.9 points to 21.1 units for his senior season), Johni Broome (Auburn), Caleb Love (Arizona), Baylor Scheierman (Creighton) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois).
None of the Kentucky freshmen, Rob Dillingham Or Reed Shepherd, expected highly during the next Draft, was not selected. Only teammate Antonio Reeves, senior, is among the honorable mentions. All these beautiful little people will now take part in March Madness, which started last night with the First Four.
