The awards continue to pile on for Auburn’s duo of Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler.
Smith and Kessler were both nominated for the Associated Press’ All-America team, with Smith landing on the second team and Kessler landing on the third team. The Tigers were the only SEC team on the AP’s list represented more than once.
Jabari Smith is no stranger to the mantle of All-American. He was just named a second-team All-American by Sporting News last week, which made him Auburn’s first All-American in 23 years. On top of the extra All-American nod from the Associated Press, Smith has been showered with All-SEC awards this year and is also expected to be a top-three pick in this year’s upcoming NBA Draft. Smith is currently averaging 17.1 points per game and is shooting 44 percent from the field.
Walker Kessler, Auburn’s big-man transfer from North Carolina, has been doing his part to get recognized, too. This is Kessler’s first All-American nod, but he shared All-SEC honors with Smith and has been recognized as one of the best defensive players in college basketball, being named as a finalist for the Naismith Trophy Men’s Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday. Kessler is averaging 11.7 points, 4.5 blocks and 5.6 defensive rebounds per game.
Smith and Kessler head to Greenville, South Carolina, with the rest of the Auburn Tigers for their first game in the NCAA Tournament as the No.2 seed against the No. 15-seed Jacksonville State Gamecocks this Friday at 11:40 p.m. CT.
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