NCAA Basketball: 2018-19 preseason All-Americans/awards predictions
Preseason All-America Second Team
Tremont Waters | LSU | SO
After being overshadowed by the likes of Trae Young and Deandre Ayton last season, Tremont Waters is now ready to take center stage nationally as a sophomore. He may never be the tallest player on the court (5-foot-11) but he will give opposing teams nightmares with his all-around offensive game. He also possesses the “killer instinct” that allows him to take over games in crunch time. With an entire year of experience under his belt and a more talented group of teammates around him, Waters seems poised for an even bigger year.
Shamorie Ponds | St. John’s | JR
St. John’s has struggled tremendously over the last few years but hopes are high for this season. And while many (reasonably) still question just how successful the Red Storm can be under head coach Chris Mullin, it would be a mistake to underestimate Shamorie Ponds. An elite scorer and opportunistic defender, Ponds is the type of player who can seemingly single-handedly win games. Ponds will average 20+ points per game this season and could be even more dangerous if his 3-point efficiency returns to that of his freshman year (37.5% compared to 25.3% last season).
Tyus Battle | Syracuse | JR
Syracuse is a preseason top-25 team in the country and Tyus Battle is a major reason why. An elite scorer on a defensive-minded team, Battle is a multi-dimensional player who is seemingly always on the court. In fact, he led the nation last year in minutes per game (39.0) while accounting for nearly one-third of Syracuse’s total scoring. ‘Cuse will hopefully be more balanced and deep this year but Battle will still be at the forefront of everything.
Grant Williams | Tennessee | JR
Considering Grant Williams is the reigning SEC Player of the Year, it has been surprising how little media coverage he has received this offseason. An all-around star for a preseason top-10 team in Tennessee, Williams more than belongs on every preseason All-America list. His per game averages (15.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg) may not seem elite but he is the on-court leader for the Volunteers. That should not be understated and he could repeat as POTY in one of the toughest conferences in America.
Rui Hachimura | Gonzaga | JR
When completely healthy, Gonzaga might be the most talented team in the country this year. And, having said that, at least one player deserves to be a preseason All-American. Even though Zach Norvell and Killian Tillie (once he returns from injury) are on the roster, Rui Hachimura is my pick. A perfect fit for the modern era of basketball due to his size and versatile scoring ability, Hachimura could emerge as the leader of the Bulldogs this year. With Tillie missing the first portion of this year as well, Hachimura may emerge as a collegiate superstar.