Dallas ? Kansas University sophomores Brandon Rush and Julian Wright have been named the Big 12 Preseason Players of the Year, the league office announced Wednesday. ItÂ’s the first time in league history players have shared the honor.
Texas Tech junior guard Charles Burgess was chosen as preseason Newcomer of the Year, while Texas forward Kevin Durant was named Freshman of the Year. Players honored in preseason voting were selected by the league head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own student-athletes.
Rush and Wright were named to the preseason all Big 12 team with ColoradoÂ’s Richard Roby, Texas A&MÂ’s Acie Law and Joseph Jones and Texas TechÂ’s Jarrius Jackson.
KUÂ’s Mario Chalmers was honorable mention with Cartier Martin, Kansas State; Mario Boggan and JamesOn Curry, Oklahoma State and Durant of Texas.
Last season, Rush was the first freshman in conference history to be named to the All-Big 12 First Team. He averaged 13.5 points and 5.9 overall, stepping up to averages of 15.1 and 6.6 in league play. He scored 20 points or more six times and was in double figures in 24 contests overall. Wright was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection a year ago after recording 8.5 points per game and shooting 56.4 percent from the field. He also had 42 blocks.
