Cameron Boozer Headlines AP All-America First Team | College Basketball Awards
Duke freshman Cameron Boozer has capped off a remarkable debut season by being named a unanimous first-team All-American, the Associated Press announced Tuesday. The honor comes as no surprise for the highly touted forward, who led the Blue Devils to both the ACC regular-season and tournament titles, securing them the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Boozer wasn’t alone in representing the future of college basketball on the AP’s first team. He was joined by fellow freshmen AJ Dybantsa of BYU, Darius Acuff Jr. Of Arkansas, and upperclassmen Yaxel Lendeborg of Michigan and JT Toppin of Texas Tech. This group of players has lived up to the considerable hype surrounding their arrival this season, establishing themselves as key contributors for their respective programs.
Dybantsa proved to be a consistent force for BYU, earning first-team recognition on all but four ballots. Acuff Jr. Likewise garnered significant support, appearing on 47 of the 61 ballots cast by voters. Lendeborg helped guide Michigan to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, while Toppin’s contributions were instrumental for Texas Tech.
The AP also announced its second and third teams, with North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson earning a spot on the second team. Despite missing the final month of the regular season due to a hand injury requiring surgery, Wilson’s impact throughout the year was undeniable. Iowa State’s Joshua Jefferson, Purdue’s Braden Smith, Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears, and Illinois’ Keaton Wagler rounded out the second-team selections.
The third team featured a diverse group of players, including Houston’s Kingston Flemings, Alabama’s Labaron Philon Jr., Florida’s Thomas Haugh, Texas Tech’s Christian Anderson, and Gonzaga’s Graham Ike. In total, six of the 15 All-Americans selected were freshmen, highlighting the influx of young talent into the college basketball landscape.
A Team-First Attitude
Duke coach Jon Scheyer emphasized Boozer’s selfless approach to the game, stating, “He’s all about his teammates. He’s not about numbers. He’s about winning. And I think when your best player’s that way, it becomes contagious, and it has a big effect on the rest of the group.” This team-first mentality was a common thread among all the first-team selections, each of whom played a crucial role in leading their teams to the NCAA Tournament.
Honorable Mentions
Several other players received honorable mention recognition, including Michael Ajayi of Butler, Jaden Bradley of Arizona, Brayden Burries of Arizona, Rueben Chinyelu of Florida, Zuby Ejiofor of St. John’s, PJ Haggerty of Kansas State, Ebuka Okorie of Stanford, Darryn Peterson of Kansas, Bennett Stirtz of Iowa, Tyler Tanner of Vanderbilt, and Bruce Thornton of Ohio State.
Looking Ahead
While Toppin and Wilson will be sidelined for the NCAA Tournament due to injuries, the remaining All-Americans will look to lead their teams on deep tournament runs. Boozer and Duke, as the No. 1 overall seed, will undoubtedly be among the favorites to cut down the nets. The performance of these players in the coming weeks will further solidify their status as rising stars in the college basketball world and potential future NBA players.
AP All-America First Team
- Cameron Boozer, Duke*
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU
- Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan
- Darius Acuff Jr., Arkansas
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech
*unanimous selection
AP All-America Second Team
- Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
- Braden Smith, Purdue
- Jeremy Fears, Michigan State
- Keaton Wagler, Illinois
- Caleb Wilson, North Carolina
AP All-America Third Team
- Kingston Flemings, Houston
- Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama
- Thomas Haugh, Florida
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
- Graham Ike, Gonzaga