Last season,
Brandon Rush was the
first freshman in conference history to be named to the All-Big 12 First
Team. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.9 overall, stepping up to averages of
15.1 and 6.6 in league play. He scored 20 points or more six times and was
in double figures in 24 contests overall. Julian Wright was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention
selection a year ago after recording 8.5 points per game and shooting 56.4
percent from the field. He also had 42 blocks. The preseason
selection of Rush and Wright marks the first time in Big 12 history that two
players have shared the honor.
Charles Burgess averaged 15.8 points, 5.8
rebounds and 5.1 assists in 2005-06 for Howard College in Texas. The New
York City native was named the NJCAA Player of the Year last season and was also
named to the all-region team a year ago.
Kevin
Durant is among the nation’s top incoming
freshman and is the highest-rated prospect to ever play for the Longhorns.
He was honored as the co-MVP of the McDonald’s All-America game in 2006 after
finishing with 25 points. Durant was selected as the top small forward in
the nation by Rivals.com after averaging 23.6 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6
blocks during his senior campaign.
The
preseason All-Big 12 team was also announced. In addition to Rush and
Wright, the following players were recognized - Richard Roby (Colorado),
Acie Law (Texas A&M), Joseph Jones (Texas A&M) and Jarrius Jackson
(Texas Tech). Roby, Rush and Jackson are all returning All-Big 12
First Team members from last season. A tie in the voting created an
additional position on this year’s preseason squad.
Preseason
Players of the Year
Brandon Rush, Kansas, G, So., 6-6, 212, Kansas City, Mo./Mt. Zion Academy
(N.C.)
Julian Wright, Kansas, F, So., 6-8, 218, Chicago Heights,
Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor
Preseason
Newcomer of the Year
Charles Burgess, Texas Tech, G, Jr., 6-1, 190, New York, N.Y./Howard College
(Texas)
Preseason
Freshman of the Year
Kevin Durant, Texas, F, Fr., 6-9, 225, Suitland, Md./Montrose
Christian
2006-07
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Name,
School
Pos. Ht.
Wt.
Cl. Hometown/Previous
School(s)
Richard
Roby,
Colorado
G 6-6
205
Jr. San Bernardino,
Calif./Lawrence Academy (Mass.)
Brandon
Rush,
Kansas
G 6-6
212
So. Kansas City, Mo./Mt. Zion Academy
(N.C.)
Julian
Wright,
Kansas
F 6-8
218
So. Chicago Heights,
Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor
Acie
Law, Texas
A&M
G 6-3
195
Sr. Dallas,
Texas/Kimball
Joseph
Jones, Texas A&M
F 6-9
250
Jr. Normangee,
Texas/Normangee
Jarrius
Jackson, Texas Tech
G 6-1
185
Sr. Monroe,
La./Ouachita
Honorable
Mention (listed alphabetically by school):
Mario Chalmers, Kansas; Cartier Martin, Kansas State; Mario Boggan, Oklahoma State;
JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State; Kevin Durant, Texas