The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State forward Melvin Ejim has been named to the 2013-14 Preseason All-Big 12 Team in a vote of the league’s coaches. Coaches are not permitted to vote for their own players.
Ejim, a Toronto, Ontario native, returns for his senior season after leading the Big 12 in rebounding (9.3) and double-doubles (15) last season. He also averaged 11.3 points and shot 50.4 percent from the field en route to earning All-Big 12 Third-Team honors. Ejim recorded a double-double against all nine Big 12 teams last season and is the league’s active career leader with 22 in his first three seasons.
Ejim and the Cyclones open with an exhibition game against Augustana (S.D.) on Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. The regular season opener for Iowa State is Nov. 10 against UNC-Wilmington at noon.
Preseason Player of the Year: Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Tarik Black, Kansas
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
2013-14 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Isaiah Austin, Baylor
Cory Jefferson, Baylor
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State
Andrew Wiggins, Kansas
Markel Brown, Oklahoma State
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State**
Honorable Mention: Perry Ellis and Joel Embiid, Kansas; Shane Southwell, Kansas State; Michael Cobbins and Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State; Eron Harris, West Virginia.
A tie in the voting resulted in six players being named to the team.
**Unanimous selection
