College Basketball’s All-American Starting Five

AP Photo

This has been the season of hype.

Hype, and hyperbole. Remember when Kentucky’s freshman class was supposed to be better than the Fab Five? Remember when the Wildcats were supposed to run the table, even when most of its starters hadn’t been to senior prom yet? Funny stuff.

Remember when Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins was going to be the best high school prospect since LeBron James? Turns out he isn’t even the top prospect on his own team.

Yeah, this year has been all about unrealistic expectations and outspoken analysis. But it’s time to put all of that noise away.

Here at RoundballDaily.com, we’ve put together our All-American Starting Five.

AP Photo/Jessica Hill

If we’re starting a college basketball team with just five players, here’s who we are taking:

PG- Shabazz Napier

Sr., Connecticut

Napier doesn’t get enough respect. It’s unclear why, as the senior point guard has done everything but sweep the XL Center floor and sell sloppy joe’s at the student co-op during the game. (Word of advice: Don’t get the sloppy joe’s. Just trust me). He’s averaging 18 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game–better numbers than everyone’s All-American Marcus Smart (before he shoved that Texas Tech fan). He hits game-winning shots, yet somehow gets criticized for them.

Maybe it’s because he now plays in the off-the-radar American Athletic Conference. Maybe it’s because Kevin Ollie is in just his second season at UConn, and the media isn’t ready to admit that the Huskies are still one of the nation’s top programs. Whatever it is, Napier deserves to be recognized as the best point guard in the country.

Honorable Mentions: Tyler Ennis, Fr., Syracuse; Marcus Smart, So., Oklahoma State; DeAndre Kane, Sr., Iowa State; Bryce Cotton, Sr., Providence