Big Ryan projected 3rd Team All-American

Ryan Nembhard projected Honorable Mention All-American.

College Hoops Today has published their pre-season All-American Teams listings. Four Big East players make the cut.

UConn’s Adama Sonogo makes 2nd Team AA. Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner is 3rd Team. Xavier’s Colby Jones and Ryan Nembhard make the cut as Honorable Mention AA’s for CHT staff.

College Hoops Today Pre-season All-Americans

Adama Sonogo – BIG EAST Player of the Year candidate and All-American candidate… One of two returning starters… Has had enormous impact in his first two years at UConn, appearing in 52 games, starting 48, averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, with a .518 field goal percentage, .664 free throw percentage, and 76 blocked shots… Has 10 career double-doubles… As a sophomore, named First Team All-BIG EAST, one of five finalists for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, USBWA All-District I Team… As a freshman, named to BIG EAST All-Freshman Team and BIG EAST All-Tournament Team… Enters 2022-23 season with longest active streak of consecutive games started with 20.

Ryan Kalkbrenner – Honorable Mention All-BIG EAST choice, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year and named to All-BIG EAST Tournament Team.
• BIG EAST ranks: 1st in FG percentage; 1st in offensive rebounds/game; 2nd in blocked shots/game; 6th in rebounds/game; 12th in FT percentage; 19th in points/game.
• NCAA ranks: 4th in field goal percentage, 4th in offensive rebounds per game, 12th in total blocks, 17th in blocked shots per game, 71st in total rebounds.
• His 134 offensive rebounds were the most by a Bluejay in more than 35 years.
• Also ranks among national leaders with CU-best 69 dunks, including six slams at Georgetown (Feb. 12).
• Set CHI Health Center Omaha records for blocked shots (38) and offensive rebounds (58) in a season.
• Had a blocked shot in 26 straight games (Nov. 16, 2021-Feb. 26, 2022), CU’s longest streak since Benoit Benjamin did it in 28 games in a row in 1984-85. Notched 100th career block vs. Butler (Feb. 8) in his 53rd career game, CU’s third-fastest to that milestone ever.

Colby Jones -Named NIT Most Outstanding Player after averaging a team-high 14.8 PPG to go with 6.0 RPG for XU’s five NIT wins, including a team-high and career-high 21 points on 9-13 shooting in the championship game win over Texas A&M on March 31. Second on the team and 11th in the BIG EAST in rebounding at 7.3 RPG. Ninth in the BIG EAST in offensive rebounding (2.4 RPG). Third on the team in scoring at 11.6 PPG and second in assists (13th in the BIG EAST) at 3.2 APG, including 4.1 APG over the last 13 games. BIG EAST All-Freshman Team (2021).
Jones contemplated his next step after Travis Steele was let go following the season, but he ultimately decided to return under new headman Sean Miller. Jones was a huge piece for the Musketeers last season and he should be a key component of next year’s team as well.

Ryan Nembhard – Named BIG EAST Freshman of the Week six times (Nov. 15, Nov. 22, Nov. 29, Dec. 20, Jan. 17, Feb. 21) to be CU’s most-honored freshman since seven-time winner (in the MVC) Doug McDermott in 2010-11.
• BIG EAST Freshman of the Year.
• BIG EAST ranks: 3rd in minutes/game, 3rd in assists/game; 14th in steals/game; 26th in points/game.
• NCAA rank: 79th in assists per game (eighth among freshmen).
• Was a unanimous selection to BIG EAST’s All-Freshman Team, Creighton’s first since Marcus Zegarowski in 2018-19.

Owned 15 points and 10 assists in his regular-season debut vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 9). The 10 assists were the most by a CU freshman since Marcus Zegarowski in 2019 and most in a CU opener since senior Edward St. Fleur had 10 in 1996 at Wyoming. Joined teammate Ryan Hawkins as first Bluejay in 40+ years to debut with a double-double.

Congratulations to these fine Big East basketballers. Have an outstanding season in 2022-23.