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Big 12 Basketball: 2018-19 preseason all-conference and awards predictions

By Chris Kern

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: The Kansas Jayhawks watch a highlight video after the Jayhawks defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 81-70 to win the Big 12 Basketball Tournament Championship game at Sprint Center on March 10, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 10: The Kansas Jayhawks watch a highlight video after the Jayhawks defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 81-70 to win the Big 12 Basketball Tournament Championship game at Sprint Center on March 10, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 28: Quentin Grimes #5 of The Woodlands College Park H.S. attacks the basket against Romeo Langford #22 of New Albany High School and EJ Montgomery #3 of Wheeler High School during the 2018 McDonald’s All American Game at Philips Arena on March 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 28: Quentin Grimes #5 of The Woodlands College Park H.S. attacks the basket against Romeo Langford #22 of New Albany High School and EJ Montgomery #3 of Wheeler High School during the 2018 McDonald’s All American Game at Philips Arena on March 28, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Freshman Of The Year

Quentin Grimes

Quentin Grimes is easily the most talented incoming freshman. He is also going to have a huge role on the best team in the conference, which might also be the best team in the country.

This team lost three of their starting guards from a year ago. They lost Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailuik to graduation while Malik Newman declared for the NBA draft as well.

Grimes is a combo guard that can do it all. This Kansas team has some upperclassmen but many of them are transfers who will be in their first season of playing with the team.

He is the best NBA prospect on this team and they’ll look for him to use that skill set to his advantage. The Jayhawks have two solid point guards in Charlie Moore and Devon Dotson but Grimes can still use some of that skill set when he’s on the floor.

Kansas has played two point guard lineups many times the past couple years so Grimes can continue that this year by playing the two.

The Jayhawks have a lot of depth on this team. This might be the deepest team they’ve had since the 2008 title team. They’re gonna rely on Lawson to score inside and Grimes has a chance to be that guy on the wing.

Grimes seems like a lock to be a lottery pick next season. If he can play well and helps get this team back to the Final Four, he could work himself up to a top-five pick.

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