The AP All-American Team And The NBA Draft

(Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

North Carolina’s Tyler Zeller and Kendall Marshall were the only two ACC players to be named to the AP All-American team announced late last week.  Zeller, a senior, was named to the second team while injured sophomore point guard Marshall was named to the third team.

The first team was Anthony Davis of Kentucky, Draymond Green of Michigan State, Doug McDermott of Creighton, Thomas Robinson of Kansas and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State.

In terms of NBA value, it’s hard to evaluate how All-America status, or lack thereof, will impact the likes of Harrison Barnes or John Henson.  Barnes was AP honorable mention and third team on the Sporting News’ team.

In 2009, the last time the Tar Heels one the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball National Championship sending four players to the NBA via the first round of the draft, Tyler Hansbrough was first team AP and consensus All-American and Ty Lawson was  second team.  Wayne Ellington and Danny Green were not mentioned.

PSYCHO T (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Hasbrough, the NCAA player of the year as a junior, was chosen 13th, Lawson 18th, Ellington 28th and Green 46th.

In 2005, Sean May was second team AP and Raymond Felton was third team.  Rashad McCants was third team on the squad chosen by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Based on his potential then freshman Marvin Williams was first Tar Heel chosen at #2 in the 2005 NBA draft.  Raymond Felton went 5th, May 13th and McCants 14th.

Felton’s career averages are 34.8 minutes played per game with 6.7 assists and 13.4 points, while Williams averages 30.5 minutes, 5 rebounds and 11.5 points.

In the NBA, from the 2009 Tar Heels, Hansbrough averages 21 minutes per game, 10 points and almost 5 rebounds), Ellington (18 minutes, 6.4 points), Lawson (26.3 mins, 11.4 points and 4.6 assists) and Green (19 mins, 6.5 points).

IRVING (Chris Chambers/Getty Images)

Last year, Duke’s Kyrie Irving was injured a good part of the season while Nolan Smith was making first team consensus All-American and Kyle Irving was named to several second teams. 

Irving was the first player taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Smith went to Portland at #21 and Singler went to Detroit at #33.  


Evidently, Irving is the real deal averaging 31 minutes, 5 assists and 18.8 points a game as a rookie.  Smith is riding the pine getting just 8.4 minutes per game and 2.8 points while Singler is playing professional ball in Spain.