2020-21 CBS Sports activities school basketball preseason awards: Our participant, coach and freshman of the 12 months

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Precisely predicting the nationwide participant of the 12 months within the preseason is a tough activity. Although school basketball has excessive turnover charges, resulting in seemingly apparent candidates each fall to be tabbed as the perfect participant within the sport, the actual fact of the matter isn’t that straightforward. Earlier than we reveal our awards for this 12 months, let’s shortly enjoy a historical past lesson. 

This is the previous 9 years value of CBS Sports activities Preseason POY picks from CBSSports.com, lots of which have been matched by nationwide shops elsewhere. Gamers in daring wound up profitable the award on the finish of mentioned season, whereas the precise gamers who received are in parentheses. 

  • 2011: Jared Sullinger (Anthony Davis)
  • 2012: Cody Zeller (Trey Burke)
  • 2013: Andrew Wiggins (Doug McDermott)
  • 2014: Jahlil Okafor (Frank Kaminsky)
  • 2015: Kyle Wiltjer (Denzel Valentine/Buddy Hield)
  • 2016: Grayson Allen (Frank Mason III)
  • 2017: Jalen Brunson 
  • 2018: RJ Barrett (Zion Williamson)
  • 2019: Cassius Winston (Obi Toppin)

This could give some hope to fan bases of our first, second and third-team All-Individuals who didn’t win our Preseason Participant of the Yr in 2020. As a result of whereas precisely selecting the highest participant within the sport each October is difficult, the hit charge on a preseason All-American prior to now decade is nearly 100%. 

OK. You’d wish to find out about our Preseason Freshman of the Yr projections. Effectively, that is a bit extra more likely to be correct. This is our historical past of picks relationship again to the 2011-12 season. 

  • 2011: Anthony Davis
  • 2012: Shabazz Muhammad (Marcus Good) 
  • 2013: Andrew Wiggins (Jabari Parker)
  • 2014: Jahlil Okafor
  • 2015: Ben Simmons
  • 2016: Markelle Fultz (Lonzo Ball)
  • 2017: Marvin Bagley III (Trae Younger)
  • 2018: RJ Barrett (Zion Williamson)
  • 2019: Cole Anthony (Vernon Carey Jr.)

The thriller of each season. Gotta adore it. And as for coach of the 12 months, every of our voters took their very own interpretation and method, be it from itemizing the anticipated coach of the perfect crew to the coach who’s carried out the perfect job at increase a top-10 program prior to now few years and rewarding them with a vote for returning their crew to top-shelf standing. 

Listed below are our three huge preseason honors for the 2020-21 school basketball season. 

Observe: The CBS Sports activities Preseason All-America Groups have been voted on by school basketball writers at CBSSports.com and 247Sports in addition to broadcasters and analysts from CBS and CBS Sports activities Community.    

CBS Sports activities Preseason Participant of the Yr

Luka Garza, Iowa

Oklahoma State freshman Cade Cunningham might show to be each the perfect participant in school basketball and apparent option to be the No. 1 decide within the 2021 NBA Draft. Or a non-freshman would possibly breakthrough in a manner that was unimaginable to foretell in October. As at all times, we’ll see. However based mostly on what he achieved final season, the one wise decide for CBS Sports activities Preseason Participant of the Yr is Iowa senior Luka Garza — the 6-foot-11 heart who averaged 23.9 factors and 9.8 rebounds as a junior. Garza was a consensus First Crew All-American final season, one who had the nation’s highest Participant Effectivity Score (35.11) and completed No. 1 within the KenPom Participant of the Yr standings. His determination to return to the Huge Ten for a closing season has Iowa ranked fifth within the CBS Sports activities Preseason Prime 25 And 1 and may give the Hawkeyes a legit likelihood to advance to the Remaining 4 for the primary time since 1980. — Gary Parrish

Itching for extra school hoops evaluation? Hear under and subscribe to the Eye on School Basketball podcast the place we take you past the hardwood with insider info and prompt reactions.

CBS Sports activities Preseason Coach of the Yr

Mark Few, Gonzaga

The Bulldogs spent most of final season ranked both No. 1 or No. 2 nationally, and that was after Mark Few entered the season with measured expectations for an inexperienced group. This Gonzaga crew has confirmed producers able to take the following step in Corey Kispert, Joel Ayayi and Drew Timme. They are going to mix with an intriguing group of newcomers that features five-star freshman Jalen Suggs to present Few one other Remaining 4-caliber crew. It will likely be particularly attention-grabbing to see how Few unleashes Suggs, who’s the highest-ranked prospect that Few has ever signed, in keeping with 247Sports. — David Cobb

CBS Sports activities Preseason Freshman of the Yr

Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State

A 6-8 guard who was considered because the consensus No. 1 prospect within the 2020 recruiting class, Cunningham arrives at Oklahoma State as probably the most adorned recruit in program historical past. And he’ll get an opportunity to show his worth early. The Cowboys are planning to make their system revolve across the potential future No. 1 decide as the first creator and initiator for a crew that ought to problem within the prime half of the Huge 12. He ought to shine immediately as one of many greatest rookie stars within the sport. — Kyle Boone

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