Indiana basketball: Trayce Jackson-Davis named Preseason All-American
![Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23). Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Mar 11, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23). Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/250dd3a897092ae0d54e5f30968e1ad4a7d231b896e00995a384f0d145a9dac2.jpg)
Before going down with a left foot injury in December, Marcus Sasser was playing some of the best basketball in the nation, averaging 17.7 points and 2.2 steals in 12 games. Sasser had 25+ points in four of his 12 games, including a 25-point performance on the road against then-ranked #9 Alabama. Sasser is my preseason Naismith Player of the Year and, as much as it hurts to say, I believe him and Kelvin Sampson are going to lead the Cougars to a National Championship title in 2023.
If not for his foot injury, Sasser would most likely be in the NBA right now after likely being selected in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft. But things worked out differently for the Dallas native as he now has a chance to compete for a national title and bring Houston back to relevance as a top contending team who has reached the Elite Eight in three straight NCAA Tournaments.