KU's Collins and Little Get All Big 12 Honors

IRVING, Texas – University of Kansas junior Sherron Collins has been named to the men’s basketball Preseason All-Big 12 Team and junior Mario Little has been picked as the Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year, the league office announced Tuesday. Collins and Little were selected in a vote by the league head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes.

Joining Sherron Collins on the All-Big 12 team are Oklahoma sophomore forward Blake Griffin, Baylor senior guard Curtis Jerrells, Texas senior guard A.J. Abrams and Texas junior forward Damion James. Griffin was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year and Sooner teammate Willie Warren was voted Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year.

Collins is the Jayhawks’ leading returning scorer from the 2007-08 season averaging 9.3 points per game. The Chicago native has made a huge impact in his first two seasons at KU - the 2008 national title, two Big 12 regular-season championships, two league tourney titles and two NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances. Last season he was honored with the Big 12 Sixth Man Award and was named to the Big 12 All-Reserve team by the media. As a freshman Collins was a member of the Big 12 All-Rookie team as he averaged 22.3 minutes and 9.3 points per game and was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection.

Little arrives in Lawrence after leading Chipola (Fla.) College to a 68-5 record over the last two seasons. He averaged 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists a year ago for Chipola and shot 55 percent from the floor, including 40.3 percent from three-point range. Little was rated as the No. 1 JUCO player in the country by Rivals.com.

Preseason Player of the Year

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma, F, 6-10, 251, So., Oklahoma City, Okla./Oklahoma Christian School**

Preseason Newcomer of the Year

MARIO LITTLE, KANSAS, G, 6-5, 210, Jr., Chicago, Ill./Washington/Chipola CC [Fla.]

Preseason Freshman of the Year

Willie Warren, Oklahoma, G, 6-4, 207, Fr., Fort Worth, Texas/North Crowley**

2008-09 Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Name, School, Pos., Ht., Wt., Cl., Hometown/Previous School(s)

Curtis Jerrells, Baylor, G, 6-1, 208, Sr., Austin, Texas/Del Valle

SHERRON COLLINS, KANSAS, G, 5-11, 200, Jr., Chicago, Ill./Crane

Blake Griffin, Oklahoma**, F, 6-10, 251, So., Oklahoma City, Okla./Oklahoma Christian School

A.J. Abrams, Texas, G, 5-11, 161, Sr., Round Rock, Texas/McNeil

Damion James, Texas, F/G, 6-7, 222, Jr., Nacogdoches, Texas/Nacogdoches

Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school): DeMarre Carroll & Leo Lyons, Missouri; James Anderson & Byron Eaton, Oklahoma State; Connor Atchley, Texas; Josh Carter & Bryan Davis, Texas A&M

**unanimous selection