NEW YORK --
Eric Dixon and
Wooga Poplar have received Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team and Tecond Team laurels, respectively, as announced by the league on Wednesday.
Dixon has been an All-BIG EAST Second Team pick in each of the past two seasons. Last year, the sturdy forward averaged a team-leading 16.6 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Poplar enters his first year on the Main Line after playing the last three season at Miami. While there, he played a significant role in the group's march to the 2022 NCAA Final Four. He is coming off of a 2023-24 campaign in which he he averaged 13.1 points and 4.8 rebounds a game in 29 games for the Hurricanes.
Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner has been named 2024-25 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year by a vote of the league's head coaches. Connecticut forward Liam McNeeley has been selected BIG EAST Preseason Freshman of the Year. The coaches, who were not permitted to choose their own players, also chose an All-BIG EAST First Team, All-BIG EAST Second Team and All-BIG EAST Third Team.
Kalkbrenner, a 7-1 senior, was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last year and has been the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in each of the last three seasons. He is only the third BIG EAST player to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors three times. The others are Georgetown's Patrick Ewing (four times) and Alonzo Mourning (three times). Last year, Kalkbrenner averaged 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds and a league-leading 3.1 blocks. A native of Florissant, Mo., he also topped the league in field goal percentage, making 64.6 percent.
McNeeley, a 6-7 forward from Richardson, Texas, is a consensus top-20 prep prospect who was also a McDonald's All-America selection. In 2023-24, he led Montverde Academy (Fla.) to a first-place finish at the 2024 Chipotle Nationals and an undefeated season. He was named MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic. McNeeley also has national team experience, playing for the U16 U.S. National Team and winning a gold medal at the 2021 FIBA Americas Championship.
The Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team is a veteran group. Each honoree has at least two years of collegiate experience. The only player to earn All-BIG EAST First Team honors last season is St. John's guard Kadary Richmond, who transferred from Seton Hall. Last season, Richmond averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.2 steals.
UConn is represented by forward Alex Karaban who compiled averages of 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for the national champion Huskies. He shot 37.9 percent from 3-point range and 88.5 percent from the foul line.
Marquette senior guard Kam Jones ranked fourth in the BIG EAST in scoring with a 17.2 average. He also connected on 40.6 percent from 3-point range, which was second best in the league. Jones also made the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
Providence forward-guard Bryce Hopkins was likely on his way to conference honors before an injury derailed his season after 14 games. He was a unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection two years ago.
The Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team includes two players each from Butler and Xavier and one from St. John's. Butler forwards Pierre Brooks and Jahmyl Telfort were the team's top two scorers last season. Xavier forward Zach Freemantle is back after missing a season and a half with a leg injury. Guard Dayvion McKnight was an All-BIG EAST Second Team selection last year. St. John's guard Deivon Smith is a transfer from Utah.
The Preseason All-BIG EAST Third Team is guard heavy. All five are backcourt standouts. The returnees are Creighton's Steven Ashworth and Georgetown's Jayden Epps along with transfers Poplar, Aidan Mahaney of UConn and Ryan Conwell of Xavier.
BIG EAST PRESEASON HONORS
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton, C, Sr., 7-1, 270, Florissant, Mo.
PRESEASON FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Liam McNeeley, Connecticut, F, Fr., 6-7, 210, Richardson, Texas
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST FIRST TEAM
Alex Karaban, Connecticut, F, R-Jr., 6-8, 225, Southborough, Mass.
Kam Jones, Marquette, G, Sr., 6-5, 205, Memphis, Tenn.
Bryce Hopkins, Providence, G-F, Sr., 6-7, 220, Oak Park, Ill.
Kadary Richmond, St. John's, G, Gr., 6-6, 205, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Eric Dixon, Villanova, F, Gr., 6-8, 265, Willow Grove, Pa.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST SECOND TEAM
Pierre Brooks, Butler, F, Sr., 6-6, 200, Detroit, Mich.
Jahmyl Telfort, Butler, F, Gr., 6-7, 240, Montreal, Quebec
Deivon Smith, St. John's, G, Gr., 6-0, 175, Decatur, Ga.
Zach Freemantle, Xavier, F, Gr., 6-9, 227, Teaneck, N.J.
Dayvion McKnight, Xavier, G, Gr., 6-0, 190, Shelbyville, Ky.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG EAST THIRD TEAM
Aidan Mahaney, Connecticut, G, Jr., 6-3, 185, Lafayette, Calif.
Steven Ashworth, Creighton, G, Sr., 6-0, 175, Alpine, Utah
Jayden Epps, Georgetown, G, Jr., 6-2, 190, Norfolk, Va.
Wooga Poplar, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-5, 197, Philadelphia, Pa.
Ryan Conwell, Xavier, G, Jr., 6-4, 215, Indianapolis, Ind.
