Dosunmu Named AP Preseason All-American
November 11, 2020 | Men's Basketball
News
Fighting Illini junior point guard Ayo Dosunmu has been voted to the Associated Press Preseason All-America Team, the AP announced Wednesday.
2020-21 AP Preseason All-America Team
Jared Butler, Baylor
Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State
Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
Luka Garza, Iowa (unanimous)
Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
Remy Martin, Arizona State
This is the latest in a number of preseason accolades for Dosunmu, who is on the Bob Cousy Award Watch List for the second straight year, a first-team All-America pick by CBS Sports, unanimous All-Big Ten selection by the league voters, and ranked as the nation's No. 3 overall player by Matt Norlander and No. 2 returning player by Andy Katz.
Dosunmu averaged 16.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists last season, earning first-team All-Big Ten honors by the media while helping lead the Illini to a 21-10 overall record and 13-7 in conference play. He withdrew from the NBA Draft to return to campus for his junior campaign, where the Illini will enter the season ranked No. 8 nationally.
Dosunmu is the first Illini to be voted an AP Preseason All-American since Dee Brown as a senior (2005-06).
AYO DOSUNMU | 2019-20 SEASON 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
- Naismith Trophy Midseason Team (Feb. 13)
- Jay Bilas Co-National Player of the Week (Jan. 27)
- 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%
