One is a fifth-year senior who started his profession at a mid-major, the opposite a first-year wunderkind recruited by everybody. The primary is a now main a program on the rise, whereas the opposite is the unmistakable star for a conventional energy.
Johni Broome of Auburn and Cooper Flagg of Duke do have one thing in frequent, although: The forwards have been unanimous first-team picks for The Related Press males’s school basketball All-America groups launched Tuesday.
They have been joined on the primary staff by Alabama star Mark Sears, Purdue’s Braden Smith and Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida.
Solely Broome, a third-team choose a 12 months in the past, and Flagg have been among the many first 5 on the ballots of all 61 nationwide media members who vote for the weekly AP High 25. Broome turns into the Tigers’ fourth All-American and first to make the primary staff, whereas Flagg is the nineteenth completely different Blue Devils participant to earn first-team recognition.
“He’s doing issues no person actually has ever accomplished earlier than,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. “And he’s not about numbers. I’m telling you, when this dude goes residence, anyone says to him, ‘Man, you had 42, six and 7,’ he’ll say, ‘OK, cool.’ That’s not what he’s about, which to me makes it even higher as a result of you may get caught up with that, particularly as a younger participant.”
Perhaps that’s one thing else that Broome and Flagg have in frequent: Each are eyeing a nationwide championship. Auburn spent eight weeks at No. 1 this 12 months, whereas Duke ascended to the highest spot when the Tigers stumbled down the stretch.
Now, the 2 packages head to the NCAA Event because the No. 1 seed of their respective areas.
“I’ve proved so much individually via my profession however my predominant purpose is a staff purpose, which is to win the nationwide championship,” mentioned Broome, who performed two seasons at Morehead State earlier than spending the previous three with the Tigers. “When the staff shines, everybody shines individually. Coming from the place I got here from, it means so much to me.”
Sears was a second-team choose final season, when he helped to steer the Crimson Tide to their first Last 4. He initially declared for the NBA draft however withdrew in late Might, selecting as an alternative to return to Alabama for an additional run at a nationwide title.
He is the Crimson Tide’s second first-team All-American after Brandon Miller two years in the past.
Smith was an honorable point out choose final 12 months, when Purdue teammate Zach Edey was a unanimous first-team choose for the second straight season. With Edey off to the NBA, Smith grew to become the go-to participant for a bunch of Boilermakers who might be making an attempt to return to the nationwide championship sport after dropping to UConn there a 12 months in the past.
Florida had by no means had a first-team All-American earlier than Clayton, who helped the Gators climb as excessive as No. 2 within the High 25 this season. He is additionally their first All-American since 2007, when second-teamer Joakim Noah and third-team alternative Al Horford led the Gators to their second consecutive nationwide championship.
Maybe the versatile Clayton will have the ability to lead Florida again to the highest in March Insanity.
“No matter path, I like my guys,” he mentioned. “Me and my guys in opposition to whoever.”
JT Toppin transferred from New Mexico to Texas Tech, John Tonje from Missouri to Wisconsin and PJ Haggerty from Tulsa to Memphis, and all took benefit of a change in surroundings to have breakout seasons and earn second-team All-America honors.
The trio was joined on the second staff by Kam Jones of Marquette and RJ Luis Jr. of St. John’s.
Hunter Dickinson of Kansas and fellow massive man Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton have been third-team picks, making it three straight years that every appeared on an All-America staff. Each have been honorable point out two years in the past, whereas Dickinson was a second-team choose and Kalkbrenner honorable point out once more final season.
They have been joined on the third staff by Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee, Eric Dixon of Villanova and Houston’s LJ Cryer, who was the Massive 12 participant of the 12 months and an honorable point out All-America choose final season.
Chaz Lanier of Tennessee and Trey Kaufman-Renn of Purdue have been among the many subsequent 10 (together with ties) in voting who earned honorable point out recognition. Different honorable mentions included Donovan Dent of New Mexico, Drake’s Bennett Stirtz and Chucky Hepburn of Louisville.
