KU's Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich Named Associated Press All-America

March 30, 2009

LAWRENCE, Kan. – TheKansas men’s basketball’s duo of Sherron Collins and Cole Aldrich were recognized by the Associated Press with All-America honors announced Monday. Collins, a junior guard from Chicago was named AP All-American Third Team, while Aldrich, a sophomore center from Bloomington, Minn., received AP All-America Honorable Mention accolades.

Collins led the Jayhawks in scoring with 18.9 points per game to go along with 2.9 rebounds and 5.0 assists this season. In addition to being named AP All-America Third-Team, Collins also garnered All-America Second Team honors from the USBWA and All-America Third Team honors from CBSSports.com and the Sporting News. An All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2008-09, Collins was named to the NABC District 8 First Team and was also selected as a mid-season candidate for the Wooden Award and the Naismith Trophy as well as a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Bob Cousy Award.

Aldrich was the second leading scorer on Kansas’ Big 12 regular-season and Sweet 16 team with 14.9 points and led the team with 11.1 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. Aldrich also joined Collins on the All-Big 12 First Team and was named the co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by the conference coaches. He was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team by both the coaches and the media and was selected to the NABC District 8 First Team, along with Collins. Athlon Sports selected Aldrich as the National Most Improved Player of the Year.

In Kansas’ 2008 NCAA National Championship season, the Jayhawks had three players earn Associated Press All-America honors with Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers and Brandon Rush being honorable mention selections.