By JACOB POLACHECK
Iowa senior big Luka Garza was the lone unanimous selection to The Associated Press preseason All-America team released Wednesday.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this year and coming back,” Garza said. “Going through the process, I learned a lot, but at the end of the day, going through this team’s potential, I felt like this was something I couldn’t turn down and not be a part of.”
The 6-foot-11 forward averaged 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while shooting 54 percent from the floor last season. He was named a first-team AP All-American and finished second to Dayton’s Obi Toppin in national player of the year voting.
Garza tested the NBA Draft waters this summer before opting to return to Iowa for his senior year.
With Garza’s return, Iowa was ranked a program-high No. 5 in the AP preseason Top 25.
Garza was joined on the team by Baylor senior guard Jared Butler, Oklahoma State freshman guard Cade Cunningham and Illinois junior guard Ayo Dosunmu.
Gonzaga senior forward Corey Kispert and Arizona State senior point guard Remy Martin tied for the final spot.
Follow Jacob Polacheck on Twitter
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram
And Like ZAGS on Facebook