The United States Basketball Writers Association announced its 2018-19 All-America Team along with finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Henry Iba Award on Monday, with Tennessee’s Grant Williams and Rick Barnes up for consideration.
Williams, already the USBWA District IV Player of the Year, was named a USBWA first-team All-American after leading the Vols and the SEC in scoring this season with a career-best 19.0 points per game. He is also Tennessee’s team leader in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg), while ranking second in assists (3.1 apg) and blocks (1.4 bpg).
The junior forward also was one of four finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s top player. He was joined by Duke’s R.J. Barrett, Murray State’s Ja Morant and Duke’s Zion Williamson, all of whom are projected lottery picks in this year’s NBA Draft.
Monday’s USBWA award adds to Williams’ growing list of postseason honors. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native also has been named SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-SEC performer—both for the second straight season. Williams also was named to the SEC Community Service Team, SEC All-Tournament Team and is a Sporting News first-team All-American.
Barnes, who is a four-time USBWA District Coach of the Year, is one of seven finalists for the Henry Iba Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding coach.
Barnes—who is also a semifinalist for Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year—has guided the Volunteers to a 29-5 mark. That impressive record includes a school-record 19-game winning streak, a program-record-tying three victories over top-five opponents and the second most victories in a single season in program history.
The Vols spent four weeks atop the Associated Press Top 25 rankings, and for the first time in program history, Tennessee spent the entire season ranked among the top 10.
Up next, the Big Orange will be competing in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed. Tennessee’s first-round opponent in South Region action is 15th-seeded Colgate on Friday. Two days later, the winner of that game will face the winner of the first-round matchup between Cincinnati and Iowa.
Oscar Robertson Trophy Finalists
National Player of the Year
RJ Barrett, Duke
Grant Williams, Tennessee
Zion Williamson, Duke
Ja Morant, Murray State
Henry Iba Award
National Coach of the Year
Rick Barnes, Tennessee
Chris Beard, Texas Tech
Tony Bennett, Virginia
Mark Few, Gonzaga
Matt Painter, Purdue
Kelvin Sampson, Houston
Mike Young, Wofford
2018-19 USBWA All-America Team
First Team
R.J. Barrett, Duke
Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
Ja Morant, Murray State
Grant Williams, Tennessee
Zion Williamson, Duke
——————
Second Team
Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech
Carsen Edwards, Purdue
Ethan Happ, Wisconsin
Markus Howard, Marquette
Cassius Winston, Michigan State
——————
Third Team
Chris Clemons, Campbell
Mike Daum, South Dakota State
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
Dedric Lawson, Kansas
PJ Washington, Kentucky
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