There are just 15 spots on the three Associated Press All-American college basketball teams.
It’s tough to get picked to one of those and even with a tremendous season in high-conference basketball, it still takes a uniquely impressive year to deserve consideration. Peter Jok found this out.
Peter Jok named honorable mention on AP All-American team https://t.co/q8BHsFVssr pic.twitter.com/jSZXepOYpj
— Blair Sanderson (@BlairRIVALS) March 28, 2017
Not to bring up this particular pain again, but entering the NCAA tournament wouldn’t have hurt, either.
But glossing over the fact that, for the second time in two years, Iowa has an All-American wouldn’t be fair, nor would treating the honorable mention like a snub. There is a ton of talent in the college basketball world this year and not one of the 15 players who made the team didn’t deserve to be on it.
But, even still, there’s something a little disheartening about Jok not getting his spot on one of those teams. He led the conference in scoring, posted career highs in points (19.9), rebounds (5.5), assists (2.6) and shot 38-percent from the three-point line.
Not bad.
He did miss two games which certainly didn’t help his case, but such is basketball. The lone starting senior on a team of young players, Jok had to both carry the load while also knowing when to defer to other players. That’s not an easy thing to do and he managed to toe the line the best he could.
The Big Ten was decently represented on the AP squads, as Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan was named to the first-team and Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ to the third-team. Maryland point guard Melo Trimble, like Jok, was also a honorable mention.
On Thursday, Jok will have a chance to show everyone up in the State Farm 3-point contest (ESPN, 5pm) where he will see a couple familiar faces. Michigan’s Derrick Walton Jr. and Iowa State’s Naz Mitrou-Long are also set to complete in the event, both of whom Jok out-played during the regular season.
Here’s the full list:
First Team: Frank Mason III, Kansas (unanimous selection); Josh Hart, Villanova; Lonzo Ball, UCLA; Caleb Swanigan, Purdue; Justin Jackson, North Carolina.
Second Team: Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga; Dillon Brooks, Oregon; Johnathan Motley, Baylor; Luke Kennard, Duke; Malik Monk, Kentucky.
Third Team: Josh Jackson, Kansas; Markelle Fultz, Washington; Lauri Markkanen, Arizona; Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame; Ethan Happ, Wisconsin.
Honorable Mention: Ian Baker, New Mexico State; Trae Bell-Haynes, Vermont; Evan Bradds, Belmont; Gian Clavell, Colorado State; T.J. Cline, Richmond; Patrick Cole, N.C. Central; Mike Daum, South Dakota State; Angel Delgado, Seton Hall; Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State; Nana Foulland, Bucknell; De'Aaron Fox, Kentucky; Jerome Frink, LIU Brooklyn; Kevin Hervey, Texas-Arlington; Isaiah Johnson, Akron; Keon Johnson, Winthrop; Peter Jok, Iowa; Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga; Marcus Keene, Central Michigan; Jock Landale, Saint Mary's; TJ Leaf, UCLA; Paris Lee, Illinois State; Zach Lofton, Texas Southern; Donovan Mitchell, Louisville; Dallas Moore, North Florida; Monte Morris, Iowa State; Luke Nelson, UC Irvine; Semi Ojeleye, SMU; Alec Peters, Valparaiso; Justin Robinson, Monmouth; Devin Sibley, Furman; Dennis Smith Jr., N.C. State; Erik Thomas, New Orleans; Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina; Melo Trimble, Maryland; Spencer Weisz, Princeton; Jacob Wiley, Eastern Washington; JaCorey Williams, Middle Tennessee; T.J. Williams, Northeastern.