Preseason player of the year

G Willie Warren, Soph., Oklahoma

Blake Griffin is gone, yet the best player in college basketball is still at Oklahoma. How on earth could that be true?

Willie Warren is the answer to that question, and he’ll handle any others you have, as well. He loves to talk as much as he loves to shoot—and is great at both.

“Yeah, I’m a little more vocal than Blake,” Warren says. “I get pumped for every big play. I’m an emotional player. I let my emotions get caught up in the game sometimes.”

Warren averaged 14.6 points as a freshman playing a supporting role to Griffin, but when Griffin was injured late in the season, Warren showed how prolific he could be. He averaged 25 points in the two games Griffin missed all or part of after suffering a concussion. Warren also produced games of 35 points against Arkansas and 29 against Iowa State—both on the road.

This season, Warren will be the first offensive option on a full-time basis. “I’ve always been in this situation,” he says. “It’s just a different stage now. I did it on the high school level, and now hopefully I can do it on a collegiate level.”

In the 50-year history of the Oscar Robertson Trophy, only three programs have had different players win in consecutive years: UCLA had Sidney Wicks in 1971 and Bill Walton 1972, St. John’s had Chris Mullin in 1985 and Walter Berry in 1986, and Duke had Shane Battier in 2001 and Jason Williams in 2002.

When Kansas was recruiting Warren out of his Texas high school, coach Bill Self came to the conclusion he’d never pursued a more gifted offensive player.

He’d rather have been wrong about that.

“It’s played out to be true,” Self says. “He had a fabulous rookie season. He was great against us. What he’s done certainly has not surprised me one bit. He’s a terrific talent.”

Other SN All-Americans

G Sherron Collins, Sr., Kansas

Every offseason, stories drift from the Plains that Collins is overweight, out of shape. Every season, he proves himself as KU’s most influential player. You’d have to page back to Danny Manning to find a Jayhawk who delivered more clutch plays. He has one more season to fatten up his output in that category.

F Devin Ebanks, Soph., West Virginia

Being one of the most talented college players doesn’t always translate to being one of the best, but it’s hard to imagine West Virginia coach Bob Huggins settling for anything less. Ebanks can be a relentless offensive rebounder and is strong enough and agile enough to defend any frontcourt position.

F Patrick Patterson, Jr., Kentucky

He isn’t the most talented player on his team, nor is he the best NBA prospect—freshman guard John Wall has both covered—but Patterson will be the foundation of Kentucky’s success. He will lead the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding, and when they need a clutch basket they’ll look to him in the low post.

C Luke Harangody, Sr., Notre Dame

He’s all but certain to average in the double-double range, but the real goal for him is to get the Irish back to the NCAA Tournament after last season’s disappointment. To do that, Harangody knows his defense must improve— especially now that 6-8 transfer Scott Martin is lost for the season with a knee injury.

Mike DeCourcy is a writer for Sporting News.