MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jevon Carter, whose clutch shooting and gritty defense led West Virginia to the Sweet 16 last March, was one of three unanimous selections to the preseason All-Big 12 team in a coaches’ vote Thursday.
Joining Carter on the five-man squad were:
G-Devonte Graham, Kansas
G-Jeffrey Carroll, Oklahoma State
F-Zach Smith, Texas Tech
C-Vladimir Brodziansky, TCU
Graham was selected preseason player of the year, a presumption that his impact will expand following the graduation of Frank Mason, last year’s Naismith Trophy winner.
Carter ranked seventh nationally in steals last season (2.49 per game) and came within five of matching the single-season school record held by Damien Owens. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 13.5 points and 3.7 assists, and he was the only player shorter than 6-foot-5 among the top 20 in Big 12 rebounding (5.0).
Jayhawks sophomore guard Malik Newman, a transfer from Mississippi State, received top newcomer honors, while 7-foot Texas center Mohamed Bamba, the nation’s No. 4 overall recruit per Rivals, was chosen as the top freshman.
There’s always turnover in college basketball, but this feels like a transitional year in particular with only five of the league’s top 16 scorers returning.