Kaminsky, Okafor lead AP All-America team

Frank Kaminsky and Jahlil Okafor are as different as stories can be in college basketball. The two, however, have a lot in common — both are in the Final Four and both were the top selections on The Associated Press’ 201415 All-America team.

Kaminsky, the 7-foot senior from Wisconsin, was a unanimous choice Monday. Okafor, the 6-11 freshman from Duke, received all but one first-team vote.

Notre Dame senior Jerian Grant, Kentucky junior Willie Cauley-Stein and Ohio State freshman D’Angelo Russell rounded out the first team.

Kaminsky worked his way to the top by improving through four seasons in college. Okafor arrived with all the laurels out of high school and immediate talked about leaving for the NBA.

“Not to be overly patriotic, but we’re an American story, that you can do that in this kind of a system,” Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said.

“Sometimes where it looks like the privileged, the ones that are identified as being great players and can’t-miss-type guys, where there can always come that guy from behind in the race and then cross the tape first.

“Frank is that guy who got a little bit later start as far as people noticing his abilities, but that’s just a great accomplishment on his part. He took advantage of a chance and has made the most of it.”

Kaminsky, projected as a top pick in the NBA draft, led the Badgers to their second straight Final Four berth, averaging 18.7 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting 54.9 per cent from the field, including 41.5 per cent from threepoint range.

He is one of those big men as comfortable on the perimeter as in the lane, and his outgoing personality has made him a media favourite.

“It’s cool to be named first team all-American. It’s something you dream of as a kid,” Kaminsky said.

Okafor, who received 64 first-team votes, averaged 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 66.8 per cent, second in the nation.

Utah senior Delon Wright led the second team and was joined by Kentucky freshman Karl-Anthony Towns, Northern Iowa senior Seth Tuttle, Arkansas sophomore Bobby Portis and Virginia junior Malcolm Brogdon.