Ellis and Alexander Land Preseason Big 12 Honors
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas junior forward Perry Ellis and freshman forward Cliff Alexander have been named to the 2014-15 Preseason All-Big 12 Team in a vote by the conference coaches the league announced Thursday. Ellis was named to the five-person All-Big 12 team, while Alexander was named co-Preseason Freshman of the Year.
From Wichita, Kansas, Ellis (6-8, 225) was one of two players who were unanimous selections for the preseason all-conference team, joining West Virginia senior guard Juwan Staten who was named the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. Ellis, one of two KU returner starters from last season, is Kansas’ leading returning scorer at 13.5 points per game and rebounder at 6.7 rebounds per contest from 2013-14 where he earned All-Big 12 Third Team honors. Joining Ellis and Staten on the coaches’ Preseason All-Big 12 Team were Iowa State junior forward Georges Niang, Kansas State sophomore guard Marcus Foster and Oklahoma junior guard Buddy Hield.
A 6-8, 240-pound power forward from Chicago, Alexander was ranked the No. 3 overall recruit in the class of 2013-14 by ESPN100 and No. 4 Rivals.com following his senior season at Curie High School. Alexander averaged 25 points, 16 rebounds and six blocked shots his senior season and was named the 2014 Naismith Boys High School Player of the Year in addition to his many high school All-American honors. Texas freshman Myles Turner joined Alexander as the Big 12’s co-Preseason Freshman of the Year in the coaches’ vote.
Kansas went 25-10 in 2013-14 and won its unprecedented 10th-straight Big 12 and NCAA-leading 57th regular-season title. Head coach Bill Self brings back 10 letterwinners, including two starters – Ellis and sophomore guard Wayne Selden, Jr., from a team that advanced to the third round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament.
KU welcomes six newcomers and its 2014 class was ranked third overall by Rivals.com. KU has been ranked as high as No. 3 nationally by preseason media outlets.
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