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On Thursday morning, the Big 12 Conference coaches voiced their opinion on several preseason honors. In a bit of an unsurprising reveal, Oklahoma Sooner and reigning Player of the year, Buddy Hield earned the top honor available before the season tips.
PRESEASON HONORS
| HONOR | NAME | SCHOOL | CLASS |
|---|---|---|
| Player of the Year | Buddy Hield | Oklahoma | Senior |
| Newcomer of the Year | Deonte Burton | Iowa State | Junior |
| Freshman of the Year | Cheick Diallo | Kansas | Freshman |
Hield currently ranks 15th on the Sooners all-time scoring list and averaged 17.4 points per game a year ago. However, during conference play, the senior guard upped the level of play by pouring in 18.5 per outing alongside 2.7 three pointers made and 5.4 rebounds. The effort marked the first time a player led the league in scoring while earning Player of the Year and Academic All Big 12 First Team honors in conference history.
Continuing to turn heads, Hield lands on the Preaseason All-Conference First Team as well.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 FIRST TEAM
| NAME | SCHOOL | POSITION | CLASS |
|---|---|---|
| Rico Gathers | Baylor | Forward | Senior |
| Georges Niang* | Iowa State | Forward | Senior |
| Perry Ellis* | Kansas | Forward | Senior |
| Buddy Hield* | Oklahoma | Guard | Senior |
| Isaiah Taylor | Texas | Guard | Junior |
* - Unanimous Selection
With both Buddy Hield, Perry Ellis, and Georges Niang returning for a senior season, could we see a battle royale as the trio vies for the label of "Big 12 Player of the Year" once again?