Before the Big 12 begins conference play, we'll break down the best of each class Monday through Thursday then reveal our All Preconference First and Second teams on Friday. Come back each day to see who the best going into Big 12 play are.
SOPHOMORE OF THE PRECONFERENCE: Perry Jones III, Center, Baylor Bears
The preseason overall player of the year in the Big 12, Jones was expected to enter the NBA draft last season but instead chose to come back to Waco for what everyone is assuming is one more year. He is off to a pretty good start as he is averaging over 14 points a game while grabbing just under seven rebounds a game.
Phil Pressey, Point Guard, Missouri Tigers
It appears that Pressey has thoroughly enjoyed the departure of head Mike Anderson and his style of basketball which is somewhat odd as it would appear to fit a player like Pressey. Under coach Frank Haith this year, Pressey is looking like a true duel threat PG who can score and also dish it to teammates for open looks or dunks.
Royce White, Forward, Iowa State Cyclones
Sometimes you hear a lot of hype about a player before he ever steps on the floor and then you are disappointed when actually seeing him play but that has not been the issue with White. He is backing up all the talk everyone heard while he sit out last season after transferring to Ames from Minnesota. All he has done this year is average close to a double double with 14.2 ppg and 9.6 rpg while also chipping in with over four assists a game.
Will Spradling, Guard, Kansas State Wildcats
Spradling came to Manhattan last season as an unheralded recruit from the Kansas City metro area and he quietly put up a solid freshman year. Now he has had to adjust his game as more of a scorer and team leader with whom the Wildcats count on his production on a nightly basis. So far this season he is averaging in double figures at 11.2 points per game which is good for second place on the Wildcats roster. With a continued emphasis from Frank Martin for Spradling to shoot the ball more look for his numbers to maybe even increase as the season progresses.
Cameron Clark, Forward, Oklahoma Sooners.
Clark came to OU as a Top 30 high school recruit and immediately was a starter on a depleted Sooner team in 2010-2011 where he averaged just under 10 points a game. This season he is still averaging just a tick under 10 points a game but this is on an apparently improved OU basketball squad under new coach Lon Kruger. Clark started out very slow this year as he scored only a combined six points in the Sooners first two games but since then he has scored in double figures in six games. Look for him to raise his game as conference play rolls around and he gains even more familiarity with Kruger and his coaching style.
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