By JOHN MARSHALL, AP Basketball Writer
Drew Timme could have remaining for the NBA after primary Gonzaga into last season’s nationwide title game. He possible would have been drafted and absent on to have a reliable job.
But Timme preferred much more. Undoubtedly, a prospect to complete off a championship operate, but also to function a single extra period with coach Mark Few.
There was an additional profit, as well: Timme was the lone unanimous selection by a 63-particular person media panel on The Connected Push preseason All-The us crew launched Monday. He was joined by Illinois big guy Kofi Cockburn, UCLA guard Johnny Juzang, Villanova point guard Collin Gillespie and Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis.
“I like it right here. It’s a excellent put. It is where by I want to be,” Timme explained. “When I do something, I really feel like I have to be the ideal model of myself and I felt like there are some things I needed to get the job done on in order to achieve that. Coach pushes me every day, we experienced some talks and I felt like it was the greatest go to me, the most sensible transfer, primarily with talking with coach and my relatives.”
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Timme transformed from a freshman backup to one of the nation’s finest large gentlemen last season, earning second-crew All-The united states honors. He was a crucial cog in Gonzaga’s return to the NCAA title video game, averaging 19 points and 7. rebounds when creating matchup complications for virtually every single staff the Zags faced.
The 6-foot-10 forward can shoot from the perimeter, article up smaller sized players, is an adept passer and has exceptional footwork, characteristics that had him projected to go late in the initially round or early in the next of the NBA draft.
Timme’s return was a important to Gonzaga staying voted No. 1 in the preseason AP Major 25 inspite of shedding quite a few important players.
“I consider what will be new, exclusive, is how rapid we’ll be able to discover and set collectively this sort of a new group,” Timme said. “I do not think there is been a team that’s appear by way of GU that’s been so youthful and shed so substantially.”
Cockburn faced a comparable selection right before opting to return to the Illini immediately after weighing the NBA for a 2nd straight 12 months. The 7-foot middle averaged 17.7 factors and 9.5 rebounds for each recreation as a sophomore last year to make a 2nd-staff location on the AP All-The usa staff.
He was projected to be taken in the late to start with round or early second round of the NBA draft, but returned to cement his legacy at Illinois.
“I feel like if I could weigh the price of leaving right after my freshman yr and taking part in in the NBA,” Cockburn explained. “Now, I really feel like this is surely far more valuable, just getting a legacy and obtaining a household and someplace you are heading to be remembered without end.”
Juzang’s inventory rose after UCLA’s inconceivable run to the Remaining Four last season.
The 6-foot-6 guard was one of the breakout stars in March Insanity, capturing 51{cf31c44051a446f1d99297c08b451a661f7dcdd04e617dbfef04bac001304b73} although averaging 22.8 points. His 137 points were being the second-greatest NCAA event total in UCLA historical past.
“I’m just attempting to get far better throughout the board,” he explained. “Keep expanding as a chief and definitely all elements of the video game.”
Gillispie was honored on senior night time at Villanova and seemed to be on his way to a skilled profession just before struggling a year-ending knee personal injury in the Major East Tournament. He was cleared for workout routines in August and is raring to go immediately after missing out on the NCAA Event.
“He’s practically like a freshman, itching to appear again,” Villanova coach Jay Wright explained.
Jackson-Davis has been Indiana’s best participant the earlier two seasons, major the Hoosiers in scoring, rebounding and blocked photographs. Immediately after thinking of a bounce to the NBA, the 6-9 junior opted to keep to spherical out his activity and, ideally, guide the Hoosiers to the NCAA Match for the initially time due to the fact 2016.
“My freshman year I didn’t have a say in nearly anything,” Jackson-Davis stated. “I just variety of just held my tongue. I felt like past year I did it superior, not to the finest of my capabilities, but I spoke up a large amount more in the locker area. This year I assume I’m using the total pledge to try to guide fellas on our group, primarily the more youthful fellas.”
AP Athletics Writer Tim Booth in Seattle contributed to this story.
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