Kansas Jayhawks newcomer earns Big 12 preseason basketball player of the year honors
Kansas senior center Hunter Dickinson has been selected the Big 12 Conference preseason men’s basketball player of the year and newcomer of the year in a vote of league coaches.
The conference made the announcement Thursday afternoon.
It’s the first time in the history of the conference a player has earned both preseason distinctions.
Dickinson, a fourth-year transfer from Michigan, was joined on the preseason all-Big 12 team by KU’s Dajuan Harris, Houston’s L.J. Cryer, Texas’ Max Abmas and TCU’s Emanuel Miller.
KU’s Kevin McCullar earned honorable mention all-league honors with Kansas State’s Arthur Kaluma and Tylor Perry; Baylor’s Jalen Bridges, Rayj Dennis and Ja’Kobe Walter; Houston’s Jamal Shead; Texas’ Dylan Disu, Tyrese Hunter and Dillon Mitchell; and West Virginia’s Jesse Edwards.
Baylor’s Walter was named preseason freshman of the year.
Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Dickinson, a 7-foot-2 center from Alexandria, Virginia, averaged 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds during his three years at Michigan. He was a three-time all-Big Ten selection with first-team honors in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds for his career and led Michigan in points and rebounds each of the last three seasons.
“I appreciate the coaches recognizing myself, Dajuan and Kevin,” Dickinson said in a news release. “It says a lot about the potential of our team. Now we need to go prove it.”
Dickinson is the 11th Jayhawk to collect the player of the year award and the fifth to earn newcomer of the year.
Kansas’ preseason Big 12 player of the year honorees through the years are: Jacque Vaughn (1996-97), Raef LaFrentz (1997-98), Wayne Simien (2004-05), Brandon Rush and Julian Wright (2006-07), Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins (2009-10), Devonte’ Graham (2017-18), Udoka Azubuike (2019-20), Remy Martin (2021-22) and Dickinson (2023-24).
Kansas’ preseason Big 12 newcomer of the year honorees through the years are: Mario Little (2008-09), Tarik Black (2013-14), Malik Newman (2017-18), Dedric Lawson (2018-19) and Dickinson (2023-24).
The Big 12 preseason poll will be announced Friday.
Big 12 preseason awards
Preseason player of the year: Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, 7-2, Sr., C, Alexandria, Va.
Preseason newcomer of the year: Dickinson, Kansas.
Preseason freshman of the year: Ja’Kobe Walter, Baylor, 6-5, Fr., F, McKinney, Texas.
Preseason all-Big 12 team: L.J. Cryer, Houston, 6-1, Sr., G, Katy, Texas; Hunter Dickinson, Kansas, 7-2, Sr., C, Alexandria, Virginia; Dajuan Harris, Kansas, 6-2, Jr., G, Columbia, Missouri; Emanuel Miller, TCU, 6-7, Sr., F, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; Max Abmas, Texas, 6-0, Sr., G, Rockwall, Texas.
Honorable mention: Jalen Bridges (Baylor), RayJ Dennis (Baylor), Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor), Jamal Shead (Houston), Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas), Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State), Tylor Perry (Kansas State), Dylan Disu (Texas), Tyrese Hunter (Texas), Dillon Mitchell (Texas), Jesse Edwards (West Virginia).
