After an up-and-down freshman season where he struggled at times with his aggressiveness and role in the offense, Baylor sophomore Perry Jones III was named preseason player of the year by the Big 12 coaches yesterday.
Jones, an athletic 6'11 235 forward who played high school basketball in Duncanville, was a highly-touted recruit who averaged 13.9 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Bears last year. He surprised many by returning to school and not declaring for the NBA draft, where he was projected to be a lottery pick.
Texas junior guard J'Covan Brown was also selected to the preseason All-Big 12 team, as he will be expected to carry a much heavier load for a Longhorns team rebuilding after the loss of three first-round picks.
Oklahoma State forward LeBryan Nash, a McDonald's All-American who followed in the footsteps of Chris Bosh at Dallas' Lincoln High, was chosen as the preseason freshman of the year.
Rounding out the team are Kansas forward Thomas Robinson, Texas A&M forward Khris Middleton and Missouri guard Marcus Denmon. Baylor forward Quincy Acy was named as an honorable mention.