Trayce Jackson-Davis named AP Preseason All-American

Alongside four of the best players for the upcoming 2022-23 college basketball season, Trayce Jackson-Davis was named to the AP Preseason All-America team on October 24.

Joined by Oscar Tshiebwe from Kentucky, Drew Timme from Gonzaga, Armando Bacot from North Carolina, and Marcus Sasser from Houston, Jackson-Davis headlines the AP Preseason All-America team with four other seniors.

The two unanimous selections for this preseason honor were Oscar Tshiebwe and Drew Timme. Tshiebwe was the consensus player of the year last season, averaging 17.4 points, 15.2 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks, while Timme showed up in the postseason after averaging 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds.

Armando Bacot and Marcus Sasser also joined Trayce Jackson-Davis on the preseason list. Bacot dominated the NCAA Tournament and led his team to a national title runner-up before announcing his return for his senior season. The UNC big man averaged 16.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks. Sasser, on the other hand, only played 12 games last season due to an injury, but managed to average 17.7 points and 2.2 steals in his game action.

And last, but definitely not least, Trayce Jackson-Davis averaged 18.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks last season after being named an AP Preseason All-American in 2021-22. Though he didn’t live up to that hype as a junior, this senior season will speak volumes to his growth.

It doesn’t seem as though Jackson-Davis is only hoping for individual recognition and accolades. It’s more than that. Indiana basketball is one of the most storied college basketball programs in college basketball history, and Trayce Jackson-Davis wants that legacy to live on by winning.

"“Winning is a big thing here, so winning a national championship and also winning a Big Ten title, those are my two main goals this year.”"

Without those accomplishments as a Hoosier, individual statistics and recognition mean nothing in the eyes of Indiana basketball fans.

It’s safe to say that every player on the AP Preseason All-America team are part of a team that is in serious contention for a national championship this season, and the individual accolades will only mean so much in the long run without winning to back it up.