MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia isn’t the only place where expectations are high for freshman power forward Oscar Tshiebwe.
Tshiebwe was named the preseason Big 12 freshman of the year as the league released its preseason all-conference teams on Wednesday. The former five-star recruit was the first McDonald’s high school all-American to sign with the Mountaineers since 1986.
Kansas center Udoka Azubuike was named preseason player of the year, and Texas Tech guard Chris Clarke was voted newcomer of the year. Clarke is a transfer from Virginia Tech.
WVU forward Derek Culver was named as an honorable mention all-conference pick.
The preseason all-conference teams are voted on by league coaches.
Texas Tech, last year’s national runner-up, led the way with three honorable mentions. Kansas is the only school with two players on the all-conference first team, but no Jayhawks are listed as honorable mentions. Both schools figure to be near the top of the preseason Big 12 poll, which is released Thursday.
Big 12 preseason all-conference basketball team
Tristan Clark, Baylor (Forward)
Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State (Guard)
Udoka Azubuike, Kansas (Center)
Devon Dotson, Kansas (Guard)
Desmond Bane, TCU (Guard)
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school):
Xavier Sneed (K-State), Kristian Doolittle (Oklahoma), Yor Anei (Oklahoma State), Matt Coleman (Texas), Chris Clarke (Texas Tech), Davide Moretti (Texas Tech), Jahmi’us Ramsey (Texas Tech), Derek Culver (West Virginia)