INDIANAPOLIS — WKU Basketball junior center Charles Bassey became the first Hilltopper to make a traditional All-America team in 50 years Wednesday when he was selected to the USBWA All-America Third Team.
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The Hilltoppers have had honorable mention All-American selections since – including Bassey on Tuesday by The Associated Press – but the last player chosen for All-America team honors was Jim McDaniels in 1971, when he was a First Team pick by the AP, NABC, Sporting News and USBWA among others.
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The USBWA has named an annual All-America team since its founding season in 1956-57 and a national player of the year since the 1958-59 season.
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It’s the most prestigious individual honor of Bassey’s career in a season that’s been filled with accolades.
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In addition to being named honorable mention All-American on Tuesday by the AP, Bassey is also on the Wooden Award National Ballot, which consists of 15 student-athletes who are candidates for the Wooden Award All American Team and Wooden Award Trophy as the most outstanding college basketball player in the United States.
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In addition to the Wooden Award, Bassey made the watch lists for the Naismith Trophy and Lute Olson Award National Player of the Year.
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He is also a semifinalist for Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and a top-five finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year award.
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As of Monday, Bassey ranked second in the country in double-doubles and dunks, fourth in blocks per game, sixth in rebounds per game and ninth in field-goal percentage. He’s the only player in the nation to even rank in the top 20 in both blocks and rebounds per game.
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The 6-foot-11 native of Lagos, Nigeria, is averaging 17.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per contest while shooting 60.2% from the field. He’s the only player in the nation since at least 2010 with four games in a season of at least 20 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks.
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This year, Bassey became the fourth player in Conference USA history to win the league’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season.
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Bassey and the Hilltoppers continue their season tonight against Saint Mary’s in the first round of the NIT at 8 p.m. CT in Frisco, Texas. The game will air on ESPN2.
COURTESY WESTERN KENTUCKY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
