UNC Basketball: Garrison Brooks named to preseason All-American team

UNC basketball standout Garrison Brooks has been named to another preseason All-American squad; this time by longtime ESPN analyst Dick Vitale.

Garrison Brooks returns to North Carolina in the fall of 2020 for his final year of college eligibility, and with him comes the kind of hype and expectations that you’d expect for a player that’s considered a front-runner for ACC Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward was one of the lone bright spots on a Tar Heels squad that went just 14-19 last season, struggling mightily with injuries and inconsistency from start to finish. Brooks averaged career-bests in points (18.6) and rebounds (8.5), and was the Tar Heels’ most consistent presence on both ends of the court. Both Brooks and the Tar Heels expect the standout senior to put it all together this year alongside rising sophomore Armando Bacot and a talented group of incoming freshmen for a return to March’s NCAA Tournament.

Longtime ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale recently named Brooks to his preseason second team All-American squad. It’s Brooks’ second such honor this preseason after being named a third team selection by CBS Sports. He’s joined by Creighton junior Marcus Zegarowski, Villanova’s Collin Gillespie, Sam Hauser of the Virginia Cavaliers and Kansas guard Marcus Garrett. The team is made up of three seniors and two juniors.

Vitale’s first team All-American selections are Baylor’s Jared Butler, Iowa’s Luka Garza, Ayo Dosunmu of Illinois, Arizona State Sun Devil Remy Martin and Olivier Sarr of Kentucky. The third team includes Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert, Trayce Jackson-Davis of the Indiana Hoosiers, Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn, Florida’s Keyontae Johnson and UCLA junior guard Chris Smith.

For Vitale’s fourth and fifth team All-American squads, check out his latest piece on ESPN.com. And for all the latest on Garrison Brooks and the UNC basketball program, check back with Keeping It Heel.