BetweenTheBaselines All-American Team
As this electrifying college basketball season comes to an end, I figured it was time to announce my 2023-24 All-American team selections.
Zach Edey, C, Purdue Boilermakers
Season Averages: 24.2 Points | 11.7 Rebounds | 2.2 Blocks
For the past two seasons, any list of the top players in college basketball had to include the forceful 7-foot-4 center from Purdue. Zach Edey has now won back-to-back National Player of the Year awards – this has not been done in four decades. Edey resumed his dominance from the 2022-23 season right away. He led the Boilermakers to a Maui Invitational Championship in late November and won the Big 10 conference outright for the second straight year.
Edey was impossible to guard one-on-one and made opposing head coaches work overtime game planning for him. He posted similar numbers to his 2022-23 season stats but improved his scoring by two points a game. After already seeing a year of greatness from Edey, many basketball fans started to resent him and his game. Social media was full of comments like, “He is only good because he is tall.” While that has a lot to do with his success, we have seen many seven-footers throughout college basketball history but very few have had the success and production that Edey generated this season.
Jaedon Ledee, F, San Diego State Aztecs
Season Averages: 20.5 Points | 8.2 Rebounds | 1.2 Steals
If there was a national award for the most improved player from last season to this one, Jaedon Ledee would undoubtedly get my vote. The powerful forward averaged just over seven points last season for a very talented SDSU team.
After a run to the National Championship game in 2023, Aztecs Head Coach Brian Dutcher lost multiple players to graduation and the transfer portal. Dutcher decided to run his offense through Ledee and undoubtedly made the right decision. The 6-foot-9 senior improved in every statistical category from last season and led a competitive Mountain West conference in scoring. In almost every game Ledee looked stronger, tougher and more talented than anyone else on the court.
Dalton Knecht, G, Tennessee Volunteers
Season Averages: 21.4 Points | 4.8 Rebounds | 1.8 Assists
Dalton Knecht quickly became the face of Southeastern Conference (SEC) basketball after an impressive non-conference performance. Knecht transferred to Tennessee after leading the Big Sky Conference in points last year. The senior was the most exciting scorer to watch this season. He scored 30-plus in seven regular season games and shot over 40% from the three-point line.
The 6-foot-6 guard played his way into becoming a projected NBA lottery pick and has even drawn comparisons to 2013-14 NBA MVP Kevin Durant by their college coach Rick Barnes. If Edey had not returned to college this season, Knecht would have undeniably received the National Player of the Year award. He led the Volunteers to an SEC regular season title and a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Jamal Shead, G, Houston Cougars
Season Averages: 13.2 Points | 3.9 Rebounds | 6.2 Assists
With all the offensive maestros included on this team, I had to balance it out with the best defender in college hoops. Houston point guard Jamal Shead was an exceptional leader on both ends of the floor.
Shead’s defensive tenacity was unmatched and was a major reason why the Cougars had the best defense in the country. Houston was ranked 12th in turnovers forced with 16.03 per game and much of that was due to Shead’s 71 total regular season steals.
Offensively, the senior was in full command and led the team in assists. He had multiple double-digit assist games and scored 20-plus points in four games for the Cougars. Shead was the most important player on the second-best overall-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament and exceeded all preseason expectations of a Houston team that was entering their first year in the Big 12 conference.
Devin Carter, G, Providence Friars
Season Averages: 19.4 Points | 8.6 Rebounds | 3.6 Assists
The Friars’ season appeared hopeless when their star forward, Bryce Hopkins, tore his ACL during an early January game against Seton Hall. Hopkins’ injury would ultimately benefit Devin Carter, propelling him to become one of the best players in the country.
Friar fans were aware of their 6-foot-3 junior’s scoring ability and strong defensive skills, but few could have predicted he would develop into a potential NBA Lottery Draft pick. Throughout his collegiate career, defense had always been one of the premier features of his game, but this year was the first time fans saw him display complete control on the offensive side of the ball. Carter kept his same season average from the year prior of over one and a half steals and one block, but he made a significant offensive leap. He scored 20 or more points in 13 of Providence’s 30 regular-season games and recorded 12 double-doubles with rebounds and points.
While Carter fell just short of leading his team to an NCAA Tournament berth, he showcased his remarkable playmaking abilities in one of the nation's toughest conferences all year long. Carter became Providence’s second player ever to earn Big East Player of the Year.
Honorable Mentions: Caleb Love (Arizona), Hunter Dickinson (Kansas), Baylor Scheierman (Creighton), Tristen Newton (UCONN)