Redshirt junior Jalen Wilson has had a spectacular year for the Kansas Jayhawks and his play continues to rack up recognition.
On Tuesday, Wilson was named First Team All-American by the Associated Press – one of the highest annual honors in college basketball. This news comes on the heels of Wilson recently being named Big 12 Player of the Year.
Wilson is the second consecutive Jayhawk to be named AP First Team All-American following Ochai Agbaji’s special season a year ago.
It’s hard to believe the freshman who wasn’t originally supposed to come to Kansas (Wilson was originally committed to Michigan before Juwan Howard was hired) and played just a few minutes his first year before a leg injury derailed his season, has now become one of the all-time greats to wear a Kansas uniform and will one day forever have his name and number hanging in the Allen Fieldhouse rafters.
But Wilson has earned that honor and every accolade he’s received this year.
The Kansas forward led the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding this year – a feat that’s only been accomplished by seven players (including three former Jayhawks) in conference history.
He nearly doubled his scoring average from a year ago, going from 11.1 points per game to 20.1.
He’s also been the leader and catalyst of a Kansas team that won a Big 12 Conference championship in a year when the league has never been tougher.
It’s been a special year for Wilson and he has already cemented his place in Kansas basketball history.
But if he is able to help lead KU to back-to-back national titles, that will elevate him to the Mount Rushmore of Kansas folk heroes.
Wilson and the Jayhawks begin their quest to repeat on Thursday at 1 p.m. CT against the Howard Bison on TBS.
Jalen & the Jayhawks are ready to defend their title 🏆 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/lbBIbro0WR
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 14, 2023