All Americans

[nescac1]

I think Eastman does a lot more on the floor than Sawyer, and Eastman really came into his own late in the year in 2020 (and he was a guy who was new to Midd and hadn't played for a full year before that so there was an adjustment period for him).  He looked REALLY good in league play.  I bet Eastman ends up as Brandeis's best overall player this year.  (And I think in the last Brandeis season, Jones was an all-region pick but Sawyer was not, which is why I have Jones ahead of him, but I think those two are a toss-up).

Eastman was 14-7-1.5 on 55/41/77 splits in only 26 mpg.  Very solid overall but in league play, he was ridiculous: 19-7-2, on 61/44/70 (!) splits.  Those are borderline all-American level numbers for sure.  The second half of the season, he was clearly Midd's best player, after taking awhile to adjust. 

Sawyer was 16-3-1 on on 48/44/80 splits on 29 mpg (which was by far his best season).  Overall, Eastman's numbers were marginally better although it's very close (in leagues that are basically even), but Eastman just crushed it late in the season and i think that likely carries over.  Eastman is just a bigger, more athletic guy overall ... who has already been all-league in two different (high quality) conferences!  If he stays healthy he's probably a lock for all-league in the UAA, which has to be some kind of record, right? 

With four graduate students on the roster, in all events, Brandeis does look loaded.  The UAA is going to be brutal this year. 

[SpringSt7]

Sawyer was 3rd team All-Region in 2020 and Jones was 4th-team. I think highly of Eastman as well (especially having seen him against Williams) but I do wonder what that dynamic will be like coming in as a grad transfer and sharing the rock with 2 ball dominant wings who have 11 combined years of experience under their belt. And from what it sounds like last year was the first year Sawyer was healthy?

Another big element is that the talent around the Northeast region, at least on paper, is down. Surely there will be guys that emerge but there are no Echevarria, Bruton, Nichols, Demers, Repoza, Coene, Hogan-Gary type guys that have been putting up crazy numbers against lesser competition and kind of hogging the regional awards, which we know are the starting block for AA. If Brandeis has a good season those guys should automatically be in the mix.

[nescac1]

Oops my mistake on Sawyer missed that regional award.  Brandeis will definitely be interesting.   They also have that D1 transfer, though not sure how big an impact he's projected to make ...

[Stretch4]

A couple of guys who should definitely be in the All American discussion - Donyae Baylor-Carroll of PSU Harrisburg and Dan Gaines of Muhlenberg.  Baylor-Carroll was conference player of year and All Region as a soph in 19-20 and really dominates the game as a 5'7" point guard - 19pts / 5 asst / 2 stl / 40% 3's / 80% FT for a team that is in the top 25 mix.  Absolutely lit up Hopkins for 45 points in 2020 NCAA's, then dropped 26 on Yeshiva the next night.  Gaines was 1st team all Centennial and 2nd team all region as a soph in 19-20 with numbers comparable or beyond Delaney - 16.5 pts / 5 reb / 5 asst / 52-43-85 shooting % and 35 min/gm.  Could easily make the argument that he is more valuable to his team than Delaney.  Muhlenberg took big strides in 19-20 and have almost all of their top players back. If they continue to trend upwards and seriously challenge Hopkins and Swarthmore this season look for Gaines to be in the Centennial Conference player of the year and All American mix.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I'm on record saying I thought Gaines was the best player in the CC in 19-20. We'll see what the last 18 months have done for him.

[nescac1]

All five guys from last year's first team return.  But Rogers, Nolan, Delaney, Rhode, Leifer, and Leritz are all legit first-team candidates as well, I'd say.  I think I'd go with Anthony, Turrell, Nolan, Rogers and Josiah Johnson as my first team (although if doing it by position would need to swap a guard or two out, like for Miles Mallory).  Again, just absolutely loaded.

Needless to say, I approve of the job the voters did this season! 

[Greek Tragedy]

https://www.d3hoops.com/awards/all-americans/men/preseason-2022

So, we have any early favorites?

Is Turell the favorite to win the POTY?

I think Schner from Emory will probably be 1st team (HM AA). Wabash's Davidson, who wasn't in the preseason AA has a shot at 1st team.  I have to think Azor from MA Dartmouth is in the convo as well.

Anthony - RMC, Turell - Yeshiva, Nolan - Wash U, Johnson - UMHB and Rogers - Tufts were the preseason 1st team AA. Nolan got hurt, hurting his chances, but still a consideration. Rogers was hurt for awhile and Tufts suffered. But, he returned and Tufts finished 2nd in the NESCAC. Johnson, compared to the previous year, probably had a ho-hum year statistically, and also has cooled down lately.

Probably not 1st team, but Augsburg's Palmer has been a stud. But, Augsburg has lost 4 of their last 6.  Others to consider: The "Lehman Brothers," Geathers and Batista leading Lehman to the CUNYAC summit. Darby from RIC, but they're middle of the pack. Ragen from Dubuque leading them to the top of the ARC. Peek from Wesleyan.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I believe Josiah Johnson has been playing hurt all or most of the season.  FYI.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

I believe Josiah Johnson has been playing hurt all or most of the season.  FYI.

He has been ...

[thebear]

Austin Grunder, 6-6 F, SUNY Cortland is averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds, - he is the real deal, active, athletic, shoots the three and can handle. 

Carried his team almost single-handedly to their conference playoffs.

In 2019-20 he averaged 21.1 and 14.7, so a career double double through 2 years.

Already over 1,000 points and 600 rebounds in two seasons.

[nescac1]

Candidates from New England for one of the first two teams: Azor, Jarred Houston, Jaecee Martin, Alex Sobel, Sam Peek.  All would I think need a really big post-season to make it onto the first team (Azor and Houston probably have the best shot).  John Adams and Nate Karren are two more really good young players, but their stats are probably too modest to be recognized as anything more than all-region this year.  I think that's probably it for names to watch in New England for AA or HM honors. 

Sam Stevens and Nicky Johnson are two strong ROY candidates from the region. 

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

You have to take a look at All-Conference and then All-Region awards before you really get into this discussion.

[Next Man Up]

Lots of people who did spectacular things last season are back this year, providing them with a "head start" so to speak with regard to discussion(s) concerning this year's A-A Team. 
While I'm sure there are more than a few when you look at the country nationally as opposed to regionally, there are also several A-A level players who were not at the top of the radar screen last season. Accordingly, many of us who are more familiar with a region or two, as opposed to the national scene, may not be aware of some very strong A-A candidates from region(s) outside those they usually follow.
One of those players toils in one of the strongest conferences in the country, the CCIW. At this point, he is hindered both by not being in last year's A-A discussions, and by playing for the fourth place team in the conference. He is a 6'4" guard who was a unanimous First Team CCIW selection, and should also be highly placed regionally as well. He is Matt Helwig of North Central College. I think he makes a good A-A candidate as his stats reflect a strong overall game.

Matt Helwig 2021-2022 stats;

24.7 PPG
.527 FG%
.432 3 Pt%
.908 FT%
7.8 RPG
2.9 APG
1.1 SPG
1.2 A/TO Ratio

* Updated stats as of 2/27/22

[SpringSt7]

  John Adams and Nate Karren are two more really good young players, but their stats are probably too modest to be recognized as anything more than all-region this year.

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm guessing John Lowther is ahead of John Adams in the WPI pecking order for awards, unless Adams wins NEWMAC POY which seems like a stretch to me.

As always, the New England players will not have the stats to match some of their competition from around the country. But I would put Sam Peek up there with any 2 way guy in the country, and Wesleyan is going to have the team success to match.

[SpartyBlue]

Justin Hardy in an honorary "6th man" spot on the first team.