📄 2045 EC Hood’s Pre-Season All-Americans

Check out this EC Hood’s prediction for the upcoming season. This time it’s his pre-season All-Americans!

The 2044-45 CBGM season is around the corner and team rosters have been finalized. Teams like Louisville and Baylor boast incredible recruiting classes, but other schools with strong returning players might have a say in who cuts down the nets. Admittedly, it’s difficult to truly know the most valuable players as point guard tend to have tamped down statistics and small forwards are short on players with the kind of rating builds that translate to All-America honors.

In looking at our crystal ball, we are happy to report that there are several standout upper classmen who could have special seasons. Of course, there are many tantalizing freshmen. It should be a very competitive race for the All-America slots. Let’s take a look at the five players I consider most likely to earn first team honors (if there were restrictions of two guards, two forwards and one center).

PRESEASON FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS

Hollis Bremer, Sr., Houston, G, 6-2, 202

Every once in a while, a five-star player ends up staying all four years in CBGM. Hollis Bremer might be a little too small to be a first-round pick at shooting guard, but he’s surely one of the very best players in the nation entering the season. Bremer, who averaged 17.5 points, 4.4 assists and 2.1 steals last year, is the unquestioned go-to guy on a Houston team lacking scorers. He should build on his numbers and construct a season the NBA scouts can’t ignore.

Jaylen Olson, Fr., North Carolina, G, 6-8, 203

Olson might not be the best shooting guard in terms of ratings, but he’s close enough that he earns first team preseason honors just for his green light. North Carolina has just three players on its roster this year rated above 1.5 stars, and Olson is the clear No. 1, 2, 3, 4 and probably 5^th option on the team. With a 92 scoring rating, 84 outside shooting rating and excellent peripheral ratings in most categories, it wouldn’t shock us if he was the nation’s leading scorer, even if the efficiency gets ugly at times.

Warren Arndt, Fr., Louisville, F, 6-10, 227

Louisville is loaded this year, and it is genuinely difficult to pinpoint who on the roster will put up the best stats. But Arndt’s ratings are too good to ignore, and even if he has to share touches more than most stars, he still earns a nod as a preseason All-American. Arndt has a 98 scoring rating, a 100 inside scoring rating, an 80 outside scoring rating and a 92 free throw rating. This is probably the country’s most talented offensive player. He also looks like a fantastic rebounder and defensive menace. If Louisville is to go far this season, most likely Arndt will be leading the charge.

Montrell Wang, Fr., Baylor, F, 6-7, 212

Wang looks like the rare small forward who can carry a program. The No. 4 national recruit, he joins a stacked Baylor squad but brings a ton of juice in multiple categories. 90 scoring. 79 passing. 99 stealing. 87/88 rebounding. He looks like a combination of all five positions in one guy. On top of that, his shooting ratings are solid enough that he should still be an efficient star. One red flag – a 28 court IQ. Baylor’s coaching staff has some work to do with the obviously-talented freshman.

Coleman Rock, So., Michigan, C, 6-8, 256

There are a slew of great centers in CBGM, but in terms of a combination of talent, scoring ability and opportunity (not to mention the cool name factor), Coleman Rock earns our place on the preseason All-America team. After a freshman season that saw him average 15.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks on 50 percent shooting, he’s in line to dominate once again. Rock doesn’t waste time beyond the three-point line. He bullies dudes in the paint on both ends of the floor, boasting a 100 interior shooting rating and a 98 shot blocking rating. Michigan will feed him until he’s full this season.