by The NBA’s annual All-Star game has come and gone and the game’s biggest stars showcased all of their talents on one floor. It is a beloved basketball tradition that has existed for years to recognize and celebrate the best players in the world. However, many basketball fans enjoy the college game just as much or even more than the NBA, so we thought: what if we created a college basketball all-star team?
College basketball does not offer such a game to fans, so it’d be a fun exercise to create a hypothetical team using the positional restrictions used by the NBA for their selections. While the NBA has two teams, East and West, we’ll only be creating one team, as the geographical restrictions would be far too murky.
For this exercise, there will be two starting and two backup guards along with three starting and three backup forwards and two wild-card selections, regardless of position, to finish off the roster. These picks will be made based on a combination of statistics, team success, and team value among other intangibles such as injuries.
Starting Guards: RJ Davis (North Carolina) and Tristen Newton (UConn)
When North Carolina became the first preseason #1-ranked team to miss out on the NCAA Tournament, few thought that the majority of their core would stick around after such a disaster. However, that’s exactly what Davis and Co. have done and it’s starting to pay dividends. As a group, the Tar Heels have been ranked inside the top 10 of the AP Poll for much of the season and a lot of that is due to the play of Davis. The senior guard is averaging a career-high 21.3 points per game on 41% from three. He’s been the head of the dragon all year and is looking poised to lead North Carolina to a deep run in their return to the postseason.
Few thought that UConn would be better this year than last year after their dominating run to the championship, but things appear to be just that way. The Huskies have been ranked #1 for weeks now and so far this season the best player on the team has been Newton. In his second year with the program, he’s averaging 15.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.7 steals. Those impressive numbers don’t tell the whole story, however. Newton is the engine behind this elite offense, as he can do it all as the lead guard. He’s also a dynamic defender, meaning that it’s almost impossible to have him off the floor. Newton’s abilities have not only made his team the best in the nation, but also have made him perhaps the best guard in the NCAA.
Starting Frontcourt: Dalton Knecht (Tennessee), Hunter Dickinson (Kansas), and Zach Edey (Purdue)
Knecht has been not only a breakout player for Tennessee this year, but a breakout superstar. After playing at a junior college for his first two years before transferring to Northern Colorado, Knecht has been elite in his only season in Knoxville. He’s averaging 20.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while shooting 48% from the field and 40% from three. He can do it all, as his shooting ability combined with his size and athleticism make him virtually unguardable. To reaffirm the point: there was a span of six games in January where he scored over 25 points in every single one. For a player in the tough SEC, that is ridiculous. On top of all that, Knecht’s play has elevated his status to a potential lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
While it should be no surprise to see Dickinson’s name on this list, it certainly was a surprise when he made the shocking decision to transfer to Kansas from Michigan this past offseason. His decision took the nation by storm and instantly vaulted the Jayhawks into the shortlist of title contenders. His performance has not disappointed, as he’s putting up 18.2 points and 11.2 rebounds per game on 56% shooting from the field. He is about as dominating of an interior presence as can be found in college basketball, and if Kansas goes on a run come March, Dickinson will be behind it.
Speaking of dominant players, the reigning Naismith Player of the Year looks to be the favorite once again. Edey has not missed a beat in his quest to avenge Purdue’s stunning upset in the first round of last year’s NCAA Tournament. The center is averaging an absurd 23.2 points and 11.9 rebounds per game this season, along with 2.3 blocks. Edey draws more attention from opposing defenses than any other player in the game and is still managing to shoot over 61% from the field. He is a nightmare to play against on both ends and has got the Boilermakers primed to finish what they started last year.
Bench Guards: Tyler Kolek (Marquette) and Mark Sears (Alabama)
After his breakout season last year, Kolek has taken his game up a notch. He’s putting up a career-high 15.7 points per game as well as 4.9 rebounds and 7.2 assists as he’s leading Marquette to a high seed in the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd consecutive season. Like Newton, Kolek is essential for the functioning of his team. His passing ability is potentially the best in the nation and he is what makes them go. Oh, and he also is averaging 1.7 steals per game on the defensive side.
After the departure of Brandon Miller to the NBA last season, many questioned who on this Alabama team would step up to fill the void. Sears has answered those questions and then some. He’s making a case for the most improved player in the country, as his average of 20.2 points per game while shooting 52% from the field and 45% from three are all career highs. Sears has been the certified leader on a Crimson Tide team who is currently sporting the best offense in the entire country. After a slow start to the season, Sears is making Alabama a very dangerous team and one few will want to face off against come March. If they started the year perhaps just a little better, Sears would have a strong case for a starting spot on this roster.
Bench Frontcourt: Baylor Scheierman (Creighton), Kyle Filipowski (Duke), and DaRon Holmes II (Dayton)
While he plays mostly at the guard spot for Creighton, Scheierman’s size and abilities allow us to slide him into a frontcourt spot which evens the scales a little bit. Either way, Scheierman would be a no doubt selection to a college basketball all-star team if it existed. The fifth-year senior is doing it all for the Blue Jays, averaging 18.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. His play has elevated a Creighton team that has struggled with consistency at times this year. Through it all, Scheierman’s three-point shot and positional size has been invaluable and if Creighton can get hot, he’ll be the x-factor.
Despite having significant buzz before last year’s NBA Draft, Filipowski decided to return to school to try to win it all with a uniquely experienced Duke squad. He has not disappointed with his decision, as the Blue Devils have been a premier team so far this season. Filipowski has been the anchor behind their success, putting up 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. He can do it all on both ends, as offensively he is physical enough to bully defenders in the paint while also being crafty and skilled enough to work from the outside. Defensively, he’s a force to be reckoned with, as opposing teams are not enthused to go inside with him around. Filipowski’s choice seems to be paying off so far, as not only is Duke more than good enough to win it all, but he’s also putting himself in contention to be a lottery selection.
Holmes represents a unique mid-major selection on this list. He has dominated the competition this year and brought Dayton into the national spotlight, following in the footsteps of Obi Toppin in 2019-20. COVID took Toppin’s chance at glory in the NCAA Tournament away, but Holmes now has the opportunity to excel with that chance. The junior big man is averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game on the season. However, Dayton is not a tournament lock just yet, so Holmes will have to continue his excellence if he wants to give the Flyers that shot at greatness.
Wild-Cards: Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas) and Antonio Reeves (Kentucky)
Despite Dickinson’s dominance for Kansas, the contributions of McCullar should by no means go unnoticed. He is the Jayhawks leading scorer with 19.0 points per game to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.5 steals. McCullar is a unique player, as he has the ball skills of a point guard with the size of a big wing at 6’7’’. He’s a great athlete and Kansas loves to utilize his ability to run in transition and create quick offense. The Jayhawks rely heavily on McCullar’s dynamic abilities and have struggled with him off the floor with a knee injury, an injury in which they very much need to heal quickly.
The last selection goes to Reeves, a player who has emerged as the alpha on a turbulent Kentucky team. He is their go-to scorer, averaging 19.5 points per game on 44% from three and has taken his scoring capabilities up a notch this season. While being an incredibly potent outside shooter, Reeves excels at using his body to past and through defenders which opens up defenses quite easily. While Kentucky has had their struggles at times this year, Reeves has been the consistent force that has allowed them to stay within striking distance of a high seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Quick side note: eight of the 12 players on this list have transferred schools at least once in their career. That is a lot and it says a great deal about the status of college basketball.
Just missed: Boo Buie, Johnell Davis, Caleb Love, Jamal Shead, Isaiah Stevens, Terrance Shannon Jr., PJ Hall, Jaedon LeDee.
