Fighting Illini point guard Ayo Dosunmu has been named a preseason first-team All-American by CBS Sports. This is the latest honor for the Chicago native, who withdrew from the NBA Draft to return to the University of Illinois for his junior campaign.
"There were very few surprising stay-or-go decisions that went the way of the former, but Dosunmu opting to return to campus to give Illinois its best outlook in a decade-plus might be the best," according to the CBS Sports article. "The heady, athletic, fearless lead guard has Illini fans dreaming of a Final Four."
Dosunmu was named first-team All-Big Ten last season, averaging 16.6 points (fifth in B1G), 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists (11th in B1G). The Illini had a resurgent season, going 21-10 overall and 13-7 in the Big Ten to finish one-game back of the league title. The Illini ended the year ranked No. 21 in the AP poll.
The CBS Sports Preseason All-America Teams were voted on by college basketball writers at CBSSports.com and 247Sports as well as broadcasters and analysts from CBS and CBS Sports Network. Joining Dosunmu on CBS' first-team list were Jared Butler (Baylor), Luka Garza (Iowa), Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State) and Corey Kispert (Gonzaga).
AYO DOSUNMU | 2019-20 HIGHLIGHTS
- Illinois Athlete of the Year, becoming the first basketball player to earn the school's top athletic award since Deron Williams in 2005
- First-team All-Big Ten (media & AP)
- USBWA All-District V Team
- Second-team All-Big Ten (coaches)
- NABC second-team All-District 7
- Big Ten Player of the Week (Feb. 24)
- Naismith Trophy Midseason Team (Feb. 13)
- Jay Bilas Co-National Player of the Week (Jan. 27)
- Started all 30 games he participated in, missing one to injury
- Led team and ranked fifth in the B1G in scoring at 16.6 ppg
- Scored at least nine points in all but one game, with 26 double-figure outings and eight 20+ point performances
- Averaged 19.7 points over the final six games, and 18.1 points over his last 15 games
- During his last 15 games, scored at least 15 points 13 times and was the team's leading scorer 10 times
- First Illini player in 20 years to lead the team in scoring in back-to-back seasons as a freshman and sophomore
- Top guard listed in the B1G field goal percentage rankings at 48.4% to stand sixth
- Led team in assists, ranking 11th in B1G with 3.3 apg
- Seventh in the B1G in free throw shooting at 75.5%
- Team-high 17 points with seven rebounds and game-high eight assists in win over No. 18 Iowa, hitting pull-up jumper with :31 left to put Illini up four (March 8)
- Game-high 17 points and hit 3-pointer with 1:28 left and two free throws with :4.5 left to clinch win over Indiana (March 1)
- Game-high 24 points, including floater with 16 seconds left to seal win at No. 9 Penn State (Feb. 18)
- Career-high 27 points and hit game-winning jumper with :00.5 left at Michigan (Jan. 25)
- First career double-double with 18 points and career-high 11 assists in win at Purdue (Jan. 21)
- Game-high 18 points with seven rebounds in win over Rutgers, scoring Illini's last eight points in final two minutes (Jan. 11)
- Team-high 18 points with six assists and hit step-back 3-pointer with :46 left to clinch win at Wisconsin (Jan. 8)
