Georges Niang‘s selection as a preseason first team all-Big 12 player came as no surprise Thursday when the league released that news.
Niang averaged 16.7 points per game last season and ranks among the most versatile players in the country.
It’s also not a huge surprise that UNLV transfer guard Bryce Dejean-Jones was named the preseason conference newcomer of the year.
Dejean-Jones averaged 13.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season.
Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg said the skilled senior could impact his team as much as one-and-done transfer DeAndre Kane did in 2013-14.
"He has been unbelievable with everyting that he has provided for us," Hoiberg said of Dejean-Jones’ early in-house contributions.
Dejean-Jones is the third ISU player in six seasons to earn preseason newcomer of the year honors.
The Cyclones have won the postseason version of that accolade three straight times (Kane, Will Clyburn, Royce White).
Below is the ISU athletics release, with the full list of honorees:
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Georges Niang and Bryce Dejean-Jones have been recognized by the Big 12 coaches in their preseason honors announced today.
Niang was one of five players named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team. The junior averaged 16.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season in helping lead the Cyclones to a 28-8 record.
Dejean-Jones is the third Cyclone in the last six seasons to be named the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year. The UNLV transfer comes to the Cyclones after averaging a team-high 13.6 points for the Runnin’ Rebels last season. The Cyclones have had the last three Big 12 Newcomer of the Year award winners in Royce White, Will Clyburn and DeAndre Kane.
Joining Niang on the preseason all-league team were Perry Ellis (Kansas), Marcus Foster (Kansas State), Buddy Hield (Oklahoma) and Juwan Staten(West Virginia). Staten was also tabbed the preseason player of the year, while Kansas’ Cliff Alexander and Texas’ Myles Turner were named preseason co-freshmen of the year.
2014-15 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Name, School Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. Hometown/Previous School(s)
Georges Niang, Iowa State F 6-7 240 Jr. Methuen, Mass./The Tilton School [N.H.]
Perry Ellis, Kansas** F 6-8 225 Jr. Wichita, Kan./Wichita Heights
Marcus Foster, K-State G 6-2 200 So. Wichita Falls, Texas/Hirschi
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma G 6-4 209 Jr. Freeport, Bahamas/Sunrise Christian Academy [Kan.]
Juwan Staten, West Virginia** G 6-1 190 Sr. Dayton, Ohio/Dayton
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school):
Ryan Spangler, Oklahoma; Le’Bryan Nash, Oklahoma State; Jonathan Holmes, Cameron Ridley and Isaiah Taylor, Texas
Preseason Player of the Year
Juwan Staten, West Virginia
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Bryce Dejean-Jones, Iowa State
Preseason Freshmen of the Year
Cliff Alexander, Kansas
Myles Turner, Texas
