Predicting College Basketball’s AP All American First Team

The college basketball season is winding down to one of its most critical stages before conference tournament play begins. The talent this year has been some of the most unbelievable that we have seen in quite some time. It isn’t all freshman one-and-done’s either; sophomores and seniors have been owning the game of basketball this year. Players have been putting up absolutely unbelievable numbers this year, and they will be rewarded for it. This is Insider Sports Network’s prediction for the AP All-American First Team for college basketball.

Tyler Ulis- Sophomore, Kentucky

A year ago, Kentucky’s 5’9″ stud was playing in the shadows of the Harrison twins, with people wondering just how good the short kid could be. Now, Ulis has set his mark as possibly the best point guard in Kentucky’s storied history. Ulis is averaging 16.7 points and 6.7 assists per game this year, and 19.4 points with 7.6 assists in conference play. Ulis posts the SEC’s best offensive rating at 131.5 and is second in the conference with 5 win shares. Ulis’ assist to turnover ratio stands at 3.6:1, higher than any point guard in Kentucky history. There are things that Tyler Ulis does that can’t be measured by his height, but are measured by his heart and killer instinct. His name won’t be high on many draft boards, but Ulis is truly the best point guard in the country.

Buddy Hield- Senior, Oklahoma

Let’s face it, Buddy Hield is the best player in the country; one of the best scorers and three point shooters that college basketball has ever witnessed. Right on the cusp of 50-40-90 numbers, he is averaging 25 points per game while shooting 50.5% from the field, 48.8% from three and 89% from the free throw line. Hield has made 104 threes in 25 games this season; an average of over 4 threes per game. In an 82 game NBA season, Hield would be on pace for 341 made threes. To put the numbers into perspective, Hield has a true shooting percentage of 67.6% and an effective field goal percentage of 63.4%. For a guard, that is absolutely incredible. Hield leads one of the best teams in the country, and will look to add his talents to an NBA roster next year.

Denzel Valentine- Senior, Michigan State

19.1 points per game, 7.7 rebounds per game, 7.1 assists per game; those are Lebron James-type numbers being put up in the form of Denzel Valentine. Per 40 minutes, those numbers rise to 24 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.8 assists. Per 100 possessions, those numbers skyrocket to 35.5 points, 14 rebounds, and 13 assists. Valentine has been a total stat sheet stuffer this season, and is surely near the top of the discussion for National Player of the Year. He is one of, if not the smartest basketball players in the country as well. The numbers speak for themselves, Valentine is the most versatile player in the country.

Ben Simmons- Freshman, LSU

There is no plausible way of keeping Ben Simmons out of this group. One of the most skilled freshman college basketball has ever seen, Simmons continues to dazzle us with his incredible abilities and seemingly effortless performances day in and day out. Again, just look at the numbers; 19.3 points per game, he leads the entire country with 12 rebounds per game along with 5 assists per game. His LSU team has struggled this season, but Simmons has been absolutely flawless for the most part of the year. Simmons will likely be the number one overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, but will look to end his lone college basketball season with a huge bang.

Brice Johnson- Senior, North Carolina

The game against Florida State where Brice Johnson recorded 39 points and 23 rebounds officially put the athletic phenom on the map. Johnson has carried that momentum throughout the season and has solidified himself as one of the best in the entire country. He’s averaging a double-double at 16 points and 10 rebounds, shooting a remarkable 62.3% and posting the best player efficiency rating in the nation at 33.1. Johnson is a solid 6’9″ and is an athletic freak in all aspects. His draft stock is rising and the kid is getting stronger and better as his senior year goes on. Terrific bigs are all over the country, but Brice Johnson is without a doubt a player deserving to be among this prestigious list.