The 2021–22 college basketball regular season is officially in the books, with this week marking the full transition into the postseason as the sport gears up for Selection Sunday. It’s been a chaotic season on the hardwood, with several teams rising to No. 1 in the men’s AP poll before Gonzaga settled in at the top for the final stretch. When it came to individual talent, though, the elite were a bit more concentrated, with the Big Ten having a particularly strong showing on All-American lists.
This year’s All-American honorees, which were separated into first, second and third teams, were chosen by panel vote among the SI college basketball staff, with one earning unanimous first-team selection and designated with an asterisk (*). Be sure to check back on SI.com Wednesday for SI’s women’s All-American teams.
Tshiebwe sat out the majority of the 2020–21 season after transferring to Lexington from West Virginia but then became an absolute force for the Wildcats. He enters the postseason having posted a double double in 12 straight games, and his torrid numbers on the boards are eye-popping: Tshiebwe leads the country in offensive rebounding percentage, defensive rebounding percentage, offensive rebounds per game and total rebounds. He’s also averaging 16.9 ppg, leading Kentucky in scoring, and tops the country in defensive win shares. Good luck scoring in the paint when he’s patrolling it.
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
Davis, arguably the breakout star of this men’s college basketball season, came from relative obscurity to become a National Player of the Year candidate as a sophomore. His tough shot-making ability and even-keeled demeanor have carried the Badgers well beyond preseason expectations for 2021–22, including leading them to a share of the Big Ten regular-season title. The 6'5" wing is averaging 20.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals, his scoring output having nearly tripled his freshman mark.
Kofi Cockburn, Illinois
Cockburn made big waves over the summer when he spurned the NBA draft and the transfer portal for a third year in Champaign. With Ayo Dosunmu in the pros, the 7-footer took charge of the Illini, averaging 21.0 points and 10.6 rebounds while drawing more fouls per 40 minutes than all but five players nationally. In the process, Illinois captured the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament, earning its first share of the regular-season title since 2005. Cockburn is the heart and soul of the Illini and someone coach Brad Underwood told SI is “potentially the most beloved person in the state of Illinois.”
Keegan Murray, Iowa
Another Big Ten breakout star on a team that has overachieved, Murray started strong out of the gate and never looked back. He’s been the focal point of the Hawkeyes’ deadly offense, pouring in 23.3 ppg (fourth nationally and first among power conference players) while adding 8.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks and 1.3 steals. Murray takes impeccable care of the ball, sporting the nation’s sixth-lowest turnover rate, and is an efficient high-volume scorer, sinking 62.6% of his twos and 38% of his thres. Altogether, he has the most win shares in Division I.
Jabari Smith, Auburn
The only freshman to crack SI’s first team, Smith arrived at Auburn with adroit shooting mechanics and the ideal mindset to help lead the program to its first-ever AP No. 1 ranking. In the process, he may have even played himself into the top pick of the NBA draft over two SI All-American second-teamers. If there’s one knock on Smith, it’s that he’s occasionally not used in the Tigers’ offense; In the meantime, he’s averaged 17.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting a scorching 43.8% from three at a high volume.