Just one day after Kentucky and VCU advanced to the Final Four, the Associated Press announced the players elected to the AP All-America Team.
Three seniors were elected to the team - Jimmer Fredette of BYU, Nolan Smith of Duke, and JaJuan Johnson of Purdue. UConn junior Kemba Walker and Ohio State freshman Jared Sullinger were the other two players chosen.
It's the most seniors elected to the team since four were chosen in 2006.
Fredette led the nation with 28.5 points per game and became one of the most popular players in the NCAA. He also became the first Cougar to be chosen since Danny Ainge in 1981.
Fredette, happy with the selection, said, "If you go out and play your game and have confidence in yourself, you can accomplish great things. That's what I've always said in my head, and it's worked out."
Duke point guard Nolan Smith received 61 of the possible 65 votes. For the season, Smith averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. He helped lead the Blue Devils to the top of the polls throughout the season. Sullinger, a freshman, averaged 17.2 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Buckeyes this season. After their defeat in the tournament, Sullinger announced that he would return to the school for his sophomore season.
He became the seventh freshman All-American in the last five years.
Sullinger received 58 of the 65 possible votes.
UConn's Walker, one of the most electrifying players in the NCAA, has led the Huskies to yet another Final Four appearance.
Throughout the season, Walker has been one of the best players in college and he proved that with his level of play in his junior season.
Walker had a stellar start to the season, but as the season went on, he and the rest of the team faded into mediocrity.
However, they got hot at the right time as Walker led the Huskies to five wins in as many days to win the Big East Tournament. The guard averaged 23.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists for the Huskies this season.
Coach Jim Calhoun called Walker "the most important person on the team this year".
The last selection, Purdue's JaJuan Johnson, averaged 20.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game for the Boilermakers. He also became the first Boilermaker to be selected to the All-American Team since Glenn Robinson in 1994.
Johnson returned to school this season after considering leaving for the NBA last year.
Fredette and Johnson were on the preseason All-American Team. Duke's Kyle Singler, Kansas State's Jacob Pullen, and North Carolina's Harrison Barnes were the others nominated before the season.
The second All-American Team was also announced Monday.
Arizona's Derrick Williams led the team, along with Kansas' Marcus Morris. Notre Dame's Ben Hansbrough, Wisconsin's Jordan Taylor, and San Diego State's Kawhi Leonard were the other players elected to the team.
