Andy Wittry | NCAA.com | September 6, 2021 11 states that could produce the best men's basketball all-star teams in 2021-22 Andy Wittry breaks down how he created his all-star-by-state college basketball teams Share Every March, men's college basketball fans argue about conference superiority. Which conference sends the most teams to the Big Dance? Which conference has the most teams remaining after the Sweet 16 or Elite Eight? From which conference does the national champion hail? Those questions can make for spirited debate and passionate arguments. But what if we re-frame those questions, focusing on individual states, rather than conferences? I analyzed states with multiple Division I men's basketball teams and created hypothetical all-star rosters based on the current players available among schools that are located in each state. The goal was to assemble realistic, 10-player rosters — starting lineups with four point guards or four centers might run into some issues — as well as a bench unit for each state. I also required at least three different schools to be represented for each state's all-star roster. Starters for the hypothetical all-star teams are listed in bold. Which state's all-star team do you think would win if all of the states played in a tournament? Let us know on Twitter. Here are some of the top contenders, listed in no particular order. Justin Ford | USA TODAY Sports Images Texas Guard: Kendric Davis, SMU Guard: Marcus Sasser, Houston Guard: Andrew Jones, Texas Forward: Kevin Obanor, Texas Tech Forward: Tre Mitchell, Texas Guard: James Akinjo, Baylor Guard: Marcus Carr, Texas Guard: Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech Guard: Adam Flagler, Baylor Forward: Timmy Allen, Texas While uber-talented, the state of Texas' hypothetical men's basketball all-star team requires a lot of projection as many of the players involved are stepping into bigger roles or joining a new team. Reigning national champion Baylor lost Jared Butler, Davion Mitchell, MaCio Teague and Mark Vital, leaving behind valuable complementary players, including Adam Flagler, who had the 12th-highest offensive rating in the country last season, per kenpom.com. It remains to be seen how he will fulfill the role of becoming one of the Bears' primary scoring options, while Arizona transfer James Akinjo will run point for the Bears. Texas is also adding a bevy of transfers, including guard Marcus Carr (Minnesota) and forwards Tre Mitchell (UMass) and Timmy Allen (Utah), while Texas Tech adds Oral Roberts forward Kevin Obanor, who helped the Golden Eagles become just the second No. 15 seed to make the Sweet 16. All-star picks Andrew Jones (Second Team All-Big 12) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (Third Team) were honored by the Big 12 last season, while SMU's Kendric Davis was an all-conference first team pick last season after averaging 19 points, 7.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game, while shooting 37.3 percent from three and leading the country in assist rate (he assisted on 46.4 percent of SMU's made baskets when he was on the floor). There's so much talent in the state of Texas for the 2021-22 season that it was difficult to leave off Baylor's Matthew Mayer and Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua, Texas' Courtney Ramey and Houston's Kyler Edwards, among others. PUTTING UP POINTS: The top 9 returning scorers in men's college basketball Mark J. Rebilas | USA TODAY Sports Images California Guard: Tyger Campbell, UCLA Guard: Johnny Juzang, UCLA Guard/Forward: Jaime Jaquez Jr., UCLA Forward: Isaiah Mobley, USC Center: Myles Johnson, UCLA Guard/Forward: Peyton Watson, UCLA Guard: Jamaree Bouyea, San Francisco Forward: Collin Welp, UC Irvine Forward: Cody Riley, UCLA Forward: Kessler Edwards, Pepperdine Yes, this all-star lineup is heavy on Bruins but there's a reason they're projected to be a top-five team entering the season, as elite freshman Peyton Watson and Rutgers transfer Myles Johnson join UCLA's returning core of players who engineered a Final Four run last season. Johnny Juzang (16.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg) will enter the 2021-22 season with First Team All-American potential after leading all players in scoring in the 2021 NCAA tournament with 137 points through six games. USC forward Isaiah Mobley, who played alongside his brother Evan, who swept the Pac-12's Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, can now step into a starring role after averaging 9.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, while shooting 41.6 percent from three, for a Trojans team that made the Elite Eight. San Francisco's Jamaree Bouyea (17.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.7 apg; 37-percent 3-point shooting last season) and Pepperdine's Kessler Edwards (17.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg; 55.3-percent 2-point shooting, 37.8-percent 3-point shooting) were both First Team All-WCC selections last season, while UC Irvine's Collin Welp (15.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.2 spg; 51-percent career 2-point shooting, 38-percent career 3-point shooting) was a first-team All-Big West selection as a junior. Bob D North Carolina Guard: Caleb Love, North Carolina Guard: Trevor Keels, Duke Forward: AJ Griffin, Duke Forward: Paolo Banchero, Duke Forward: Armando Bacot, North Carolina Guard: Daivien Williamson, Wake Forest Forward: Brady Manek, North Carolina Forward: Dawson Garcia, North Carolina Forward: Jericole Hellems, NC State Forward: Manny Bates, NC State This hypothetical all-star roster is admittedly stacked with forwards, but the starting lineup offers high-end talent with Duke freshmen Paolo Banchero, AJ Grffin and Trevor Keels, with a returning point guard in North Carolina's Caleb Love, who would get to play with teammate Armando Bacot, who was a Third Team All-ACC selection last season. Love was a member of the ACC's All-Freshman Team. Bacot's offensive rating of 122.7 ranked 64th nationally last season, per kenpom.com, while he also ranked among the most prolific offensive rebounders in the country (a 14.5-percent offensive rebounding rate, which ranked 25th). He might be the most proven individual player on this squad. Reserve forwards and new North Carolina teammates Brady Manek (37.5-percent 3-point shooting last season at Oklahoma) and Dawson Garcia (35.6-percent 3-point shooting last season at Marquette) can both stretch the floor, as can NC State's Jericole Hellems (37.8 percent), so this lineup can provide shooting, even if there aren't many guards in the rotation. Hellems was an honorable mention all-conference pick in 2021. NC State's Manny Bates was a member of the ACC All-Defensive Team and he received the second-most votes of any player in the conference, so he, his 6-11 frame and 10.7-percent block rate can provide rim protection for this group. CHOOSING A CHAMPION: 7 programs that could be the next men's basketball first-time champ Kyle Terada | USA TODAY Sports Images Washington Guard: Andrew Nembhard, Gonzaga Guard: Hunter Sallis, Gonzaga Guard: Noah Williams, Washington State Forward: Drew Timme, Gonzaga Center: Chet Holmgren, Gonzaga Guard: Daejon Davis, Washington Guard: Jamal Bey, Washington Guard: Michael Flowers, Washington State Forward: Efe Abogidi, Washington State Forward: Anton Watson, Gonzaga Gonzaga is the reigning national runner-up, coming off a 31-1 season, so it should be no surprise that half of the roster for this hypothetical all-star team is made up of Bulldogs. Junior forward Drew Timme (19.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.3 apg) was a consensus Second Team All-American last season and he could be named a preseason First Team All-American by numerous outlets this fall. He'll be joined in Gonzaga's frontcourt next season by freshman Chet Holmgren, who many analysts believe is the best incoming freshman in the country. Andrew Nembhard (9.2 ppg, 4.4 apg; 60.2-percent 2-point shooting) provides size (6-5) and experience (he'll be a senior), while Hunter Sallis is another talented freshman in Spokane. We'll also take one returning player and one incoming transfer at both Washington and Washington State. The Huskies add Stanford transfer Daejon Davis, who shot 37 percent from three in three of his four seasons with the Cardinal, while Jamal Bey (10.3 ppg, 50.7 percent from three) was Washington's third-leading scorer last season. At Washington State, forward Efe Abodigi is an efficient rebounder (23-percent defensive rebounding rate, 10.6-percent offensive rebounding rate, per kenpom.com) and a high-percentage interior scorer (59.6 percent from two) who can also make his free throws (81.1 percent). South Alabama transfer Michael Flowers averaged 21 points per game last season, while shooting better than 49 percent from two and 38 percent from three. Robert Deutsch | USA TODAY Sports Images Michigan Guard: Antoine Davis, Detroit Mercy Guard: Eli Brooks, Michigan Guard: Max Christie, Michigan State Forward: Caleb Houstan, Michigan Center: Hunter Dickinson, Michigan Guard: Tyson Walker, Michigan State Guard: Devante' Jones, Michigan Forward: Moussa Diabate, Michigan Forward: Joey Hauser, Michigan State Forward: Gabe Brown, Michigan State Michigan's 7-1 center Hunter Dickinson (14.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg; 59.8-percent shooting) was a consensus Second Team All-American last season, which means he'll enter the 2021-22 season as a prime contender to be a First Team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year. Dickinson will be the foundation for this hypothetical all-star roster. In 2021, he helped Michigan earn its first No. 1 seed since 1993 and the Wolverines went 14-3 in Big Ten play last season. Eli Brooks (9.5ppg, 3.1 apg, 3.1 rpg; 39.6-percent 3-point shooting) will be the team's second-leading returning scorer. Michigan also enrolled a talented freshman class that's headlined by power forward Caleb Houstan, who could be one of the 10 best freshmen in the country, while benefiting from playing alongside Dickinson. Fellow freshman forward Moussa Diabate is another high-profile addition to the Wolverines' roster in Ann Arbor. Coastal Carolina transfer DeVante' Jones (19.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.9 apg, 2.8 spg), the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, projects to be an immediate-impact player for Michigan, too. Michigan's rival, Michigan State, also adds an elite freshman in 6-6 shooting guard Max Christie, while Northeastern transfer Tyson Walker projects to run the point in East Lansing after posting a 33.7-percent assist rate last season, per kenpom.com. The Spartans return forwards Joey Hauser (9.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and Gabe Brown (7.2 ppg; 42-percent 3-point shooting), who would be strong, complementary players on this roster. Then there's Detroit Mercy's Antoine Davis, who enters the 2021-22 season as one of the country's leading returning scorers. PRESEASON PICKS: 21 players who could be All-American candidates in 2021-22 Andrew Nelles | USA Today Sports Images Indiana Guard: Prentiss Hubb, Notre Dame Guard: Jaden Ivey, Purdue Guard: Sasha Stefanovic, Purdue Forward: Trevion Williams, Purdue Forward: Trayce Jackson-Davis, Indiana Guard: Xavier Johnson, Indiana Guard: Tamar Bates, Indiana Guard: Eric Hunter, Purdue Forward: Nate Laszewski, Notre Dame Center: Zach Edey, Purdue Purdue forward Trevion Williams (15.5 ppg, 9.1 rpg) was named a First Team All-Big Ten selection last season and he could be an All-American candidate in the 2021-22 season, and pairing him with Second Team All-Big Ten forward Trayce Jackson-Davis of Indiana would create a lethal starting frontcourt for this roster. Two of Jackson-Davis' new teammates — Pitt transfer Xavier Johnson (14.2 ppg, 5.7 apg) and talented freshman Tamar Bates — also make this hypothetical all-star team. Purdue had two of the five members of the Big Ten's All-Freshman Team — guard Jaden Ivey (11.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and center Zach Edey (8.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg). Ivey could be a popular pick for a breakout star in the Big Ten and Edey's per-40-minute numbers last season (23.6 points, 12.1 rebounds) were impressive, given that he played just 14.7 minutes per game. Notre Dame's Prentiss Hubb was a Third Team All-ACC selection last season after averaging a team-high 14.6 points, 5.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. His teammate, forward Nate Laszewski, was an honorable mention All-ACC selection after averaging 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Kirby Lee | USA TODAY Sports Images Illinois Guard: Andre Curbelo, Illinois Guard: Trent Frazier, Illinois Guard: Lucas Williamson, Loyola Chicago Guard: Da'Monte Williams, Illinois Forward: Kofi Cockburn, Illinois Guard: Chase Audige, Northwestern Guard: Javon Freeman-Liberty, DePaul Guard: Keith Clemons, Loyola Chicago Forward: Aher Uguak, Loyolla Chicago Forward: Pete Nance, Northwestern Kofi Cockburn, who was a consensus Second Team All-American and a First Team All-Big Ten selection, elected to return to Illinois for his junior season after considering the NBA. He's the foundation for this hypothetical all-star team after averaging 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 65 percent from the field. We'll surround him with his Illinois teammates Trent Frazier (10.2 ppg, 2.7 apg, 2.7 rpg), Andre Curbelo (9.1 ppg, 4.2 apg) and Da'Monte Williams (5.5 ppg; national-best 54.7-percent 3-point shooting). Loyola Chicago, which upset No. 1 seed Illinois as a No. 8 seed in the 2021 NCAA tournament, has a returning Second Team All-Missouri Valley selection in Lucas Williamson, who was also the conference's defensive MVP, and a returning Third Team All-Missouri Valley pick in Aher Uguak. Justin Ford | USA TODAY Sports Images Tennessee Guard: Kennedy Chandler, Tennessee Guard: Scotty Pippen Jr., Vanderbilt Guard: Landers Nolley II, Memphis Forward: Emoni Bates, Memphis Center: Jalen Duren, Memphis Guard: Ledarrius Brewer, East Tennessee State Guard: Malachi Smith, Chattanooga Guard: Victor Bailey Jr., Tennessee Forward: Deandre Williams, Memphis Forward: John Fulkerson, Tennessee Scotty Pippen Jr. was a First Team All-SEC selection last season and he's one of the leading returning scorers in men's basketball after averaging 20.8 points per game, while Landers Nolley II was a First Team All-AAC pick after leading the Tigers in scoring (13.1 ppg) and shooting 38.7 percent from three. Nolley will be joined by fellow Tigers Deandre Williams, who averaged 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game, as a 6-9 forward, and recently committed freshmen Jalen Duren, a center, and forward Emoni Bates who are expected to be two of the most talented first-year players in the country this season. Tennessee point guard Kennedy Chandler is one of the highest-regarded freshmen in the country, so he'll run point in the starting lineup, while four other Vols will come off the bench. Chattanooga's Malachi Smith was a first-team All-Southern Conference pick last season after averaging 16.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game in his first season playing for the Mocs after transferring from Wright State. Another first-team All-SoCon pick, East Tennessee State's Ledarrius Brewer, makes the state's All-Star team after averaging 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, while shooting 55 percent from two and 38 percent from three. Adam Cairns | USA TODAY Sports Images Kansas Guard: Tyson Etienne, Wichita State Guard: Remy Martin, Kansas Guard: Ochai Agbaji, Kansas Forward: Jalen Wilson, Kansas Forward: David McCormack, Kansas Guard: Joseph Yesefu, Kansas Guard: Christian Braun, Kansas Guard: Dexter Dennis, Wichita State Guard: Mike McGuirl, Kansas State Forward: Morris Udeze, Wichita State Last season, David McCormack (13.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection, while Ochai Agbaji (14.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg; 37.7-percent 3-point shooting) and Christian Braun (9.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg) were honorable mention choices. Meanwhile, Jalen Wilson (11.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg) was an all-newcomer team selection in the Big 12. Kansas will have veteran additions to its 2021-22 roster as Arizona State transfer Remy Martin (19.1 ppg, 3.7 apg) was a First Team All-Pac-12 selection, while Drake transfer Joseph Yesufu (12.8 ppg) was the Missouri Valley Sixth Man Award recipient. Wichita State guard Tyson Etienne was named the AAC's co-player of the year, along with Houston's Quentin Grimes, after averaging 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, while shooting 39 percent from three. Kansas State's Mike McGuirl was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection last season. Nell Redmond | USA TODAY Sports Images Kentucky: Guard: TyTy Washington, Kentucky Guard: Sahvir Wheeler, Kentucky Guard: Kellan Grady, Kentucky Forward: Daimion Collins, Kentucky Forward: Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky Guard: Davion Mintz, Kentucky Guard: Samuell Williamson, Louisville Guard: Noah Locke, Louisville Forward: KJ Williams, Murray State Forward: Jae'Lyn Withers, Louisville The Kentucky Wildcats will have a new-look roster after going 9-16 last season. They've added to their roster transfers, including Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia), Kellan Grady (Davidson) and Sahvir Wheeler (Georgia), while enrolling talented freshmen, such as point guard TyTy Washington and power forward Daimion Collins. Louisville forward Jae'Lyn Withers (10.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg) is the team's leading returning scorer, followed by Samuell Williamson (9.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg). The Cardinals added Florida transfer Noah Locke, who averaged 10 points per game for the Gators. Murray State's KJ Williams was a First Team All-OVC selection after averaging 15.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Trevor Ruszkowski | USA TODAY Sports Images Alabama: Guard: Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama Guard: Jaden Shackelford, Alabama Guard: JD Davison, Alabama Forward: Jabari Smith, Auburn Forward: Walker Kessler, Auburn Guard: Allen Flanigan, Auburn Guard: Tavin Lovan, UAB Forward: Noah Gurley, Alabama Forward: Jaylin Williams, Auburn Center: Charles Bediako, Alabama Alabama's Jaden Shackelford was a Second Team All-SEC selection after leading the Crimson Tide in scoring last season with 14 points per game, plus 3.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. His teammate Jahvon Quinerly was Alabama's second-leading scorer, even though he started just seven times in 30 games. While the Crimson Tide lost four players who started at least 19 games last season, Alabama enrolled elite point guard JD Davison and a talented 7-footer, Charles Bediako. It also added transfers Noah Gurley (15.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game at Furman) and Nimari Burnett (5.3 points per game at Texas Tech). 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