John Fanta
College basketball broadcaster and reporter
It’s time to don the black ties and start the orchestra as we present midseason honors to college basketball’s top superstars.
It’s been a tremendous start to the season and the freshmen’s return to the national spotlight has been refreshing to watch. What Duke freshman Cooper Flagg (19.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG and 3.9 APG) is doing this year is absolutely sensational, as we saw on Saturday when he scored 42 of 11 points of 14 shooting from the floor and 16 of 16. 17 from the free throw line to go with seven assists and six rebounds in the win over Notre Dame.
We also have Johni Broome and No. 1 Auburn, the return of Braden Smith from a national runner-up Purdue team, and a few other freshmen like Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey at Rutgers and Kasparas Jakucionis, the standout of the ‘Illinois, which has been a lot of fun to watch this season.
Without further ado, let’s get to our FOX College Hoops Midseason First, Second, and Third Team All-Americans!
Midseason first-team All-Americans:
by John Broome, Auburn (National Mid-Season Player of the Year)
Although he is out indefinitely with an ankle injury that does not require surgery, which is good news, the best player all season for the team’s No. 1 country currently receives my highest honor in college basketball. Broome averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds per game while shooting 55 percent from the floor and being the focal point of the nation’s No. 1 offense, according to KenPom. He’s scored over 20 points in 10 games this season and has been just as dominant on the glass. The Tigers’ fifth-year senior big man has been spectacular this year.
Cooper Flagg, Duke (National Mid-Season Freshman of the Year)
The projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft could lead to the Blue Devils winning their first national championship in a decade, as Flagg is an outstanding athlete, defender and winner. He attacks the rim viciously and his perimeter shooting is now producing more consistent results. In his first 10 college games, he shot just 22 percent from 3-point territory. Over the last six contests, Flagg has shot 12 of 22 from 3-point land.
Kam Jones, Marquette
He means as much to his team as any American player, averaging 20 points and more than six assists per game for the seventh-place Golden Eagles. Shaka Smart said in the preseason that America is about to find out how good a passer Jones is with Tyler Kolek leaving for the NBA. Well, Smart called it and more. Jones averaged 103 assists to 25 turnovers this season. In the EvanMiya.com metric system, Jones is the seventh-best point guard in college basketball. Shooting over 50 percent from the floor is nothing short of remarkable, and it’s why Jones and the Golden Eagles can make a deep run again in March.
Brad Smith, Purdue
He is the best point guard in America because he is relentless on both ends of the floor and simply wants the Boilermakers to win. The junior managed to improve further during the offseason and currently ranks third in the country with 9.2 assists per game while averaging 15 points and 4.6 rebounds. In two wins against Nebraska and Rutgers last week, Smith totaled 28 assists and five turnovers – yes, ONLY two games! Having to guard him is almost impossible because he is a flawless offensive player who also shoots 42% from 3-point territory.
PJ Haggerty, Memphis
The Tigers are in the top 20 in the country because of the redshirt sophomore and transfer from Tulsa. Last season, while playing for the Golden Hurricane, Haggerty became only the second Division I freshman in the last 30 years to average at least 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals in one season. This year, he is averaging 22.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 50% from the floor and 42% from 3-point range. He sent Memphis on an incredible run at the Maui Invitational and gives Penny Hardaway’s team a real chance to be a Final Four dark horse.
Midseason Second Team All-Americans:
Eric Dixon, Villanova
The country’s top scorer highlights our second team. Dixon, who averages 25.3 points per game while shooting 50% from the floor and 47% from 3-point territory, can be best described by DePaul head coach Chris Holtmann:
“He’s been the biggest matchup problem in college basketball for at least five years because his versatility is limitless.”
The level of production and shot-making from a 6-foot-8, 265-pound big man is incredible at times and he gives Villanova a chance against anyone because of how much he can fill up.
Chaz Lanier, Tennessee
He’s had as much impact as any transfer in college basketball, which is a familiar sight in Knoxville after Dalton Knecht dominated for the Volunteers and would have won national player of the year last year. last season without Zach Edey’s historic campaign. Lanier, a 6-4 guard who transferred from North Florida, is averaging 19 points per game this season while shooting 46 percent from the floor and 45 percent from 3-point territory. He has scored 20 or more points in seven games this season.
Walter Clayton, Florida
The Gators are a legitimate national title contender as 6-3 senior guard and Alijah Martin make up one of the best backcourt duos in the country. Clayton is averaging 17.2 points, 4.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game for Florida while shooting 45% from the floor and 36% from 3-point territory. He has five performances this season of 25 or more points, including 33 against Kentucky on Jan. 4 in Lexington.
Marc Sears, Alabama
This is no surprise as he was a second-team All-American last season while leading the Crimson Tide to its first Final Four in school history. That said, the fifth-year senior is super steady and such a gifted offensive player. The 6-1 guard, now in his third year in Tuscaloosa after transferring from Ohio, is averaging 19.1 points, 4.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game with a clutch shooting gene who is up there with the best of them. Thanks to Sears, Alabama has the second-ranked offense in America, according to KenPom.
Keshon Gilbert, Iowa State
I’m a firm believer in the idea that team success breeds individual success and that’s why the 6-4 senior guard rounds out my list of the top 10 players in men’s college basketball. Gilbert is doing a lot for the second-ranked Iowa State Cyclones, averaging 16.1 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor and forcing nearly two steals per game. match. Only two teams can say they are in the top 10 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency: Duke and Iowa State. Gilbert does so much on both ends, making TJ Otzelberger’s team one of the best in America.
Midseason third-team All-Americans:
Kaspars Jakucionis, Illinois
Javon Petit, West Virginia
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Danny Wolf, Michigan
Jeremiah fears, Oklahoma
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers sports in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.
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