AMES, Iowa – Iowa State’s Deonte Burton was named Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year and Georges Niang was placed on the five-man Preseason All-Big 12 team, released Thursday by the conference.
The Cyclones had a league-high four players recognized as Jameel McKay and Monté Morris received honorable mention honors in addition to Niang and Burton.
For the first time in league history, four of the five members of the All-Big 12 First Team from the previous campaign return, including Niang, who was a unanimous selection on the preseason team. Niang enters his senior campaign fifth among active NCAA players in scoring (1,510) and the only player with 1,500 points, 450 rebounds and 300 assists.
Burton, a transfer from Marquette, will be eligible at the end of the first semester after being named to his league’s all-rookie team in 2013-14.
Morris, a junior, earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors last season after averaging 11.9 points and leading the league with 5.2 assists and the nation for the second season in a row with a 4.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.
McKay earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors and was the league’s defensive player of the year last season despite missing the first nine games due to transfer rules. The senior averaged 11.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his first season at the Division I level.
The Cyclones open the 2015-16 season with an exhibition Nov. 6 against Grand Valley State.
Preseason Player of the Year
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Deonte Burton, Iowa State
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Cheick Diallo, Kansas
2015-16 Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Rico Gathers, Baylor
Georges Niang, Iowa State
Perry Ellis, Kansas
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Isaiah Taylor, Texas
Honorable Mention: Taurean Prince, Baylor; Jameel McKay and Monté Morris, Iowa State; Frank Mason, Kansas; Phil Forte, Oklahoma State; Devin Williams, West Virginia.