Kenyon Giles earns American preseason all-conference. Where did Shockers land?
For just the third time since joining the American Conference nearly a decade ago, the Wichita State men’s basketball team has a preseason all-conference first team player.
Coaches from around the conference gave the nod to Kenyon Giles when the preseason poll and honors were released Thursday, as the 5-foot-10 transfer from UNC Greensboro joins the select company of Landry Shamet (2017) and Tyson Etienne (2021) to receive the honor.
Giles has drawn rave reviews all summer for his shot-making in summer practices, as WSU head coach Paul Mills has publicly praised him as a true go-to scorer — something the Shockers have lacked. Giles averaged 15.3 points and shot 40.2% from 3-point range at UNC Greensboro after posting 14.3 points per game the year before at Radford. While the American represents the highest level of competition he’s faced, Thursday’s vote from opposing coaches signals confidence that his scoring prowess will carry over.
As a team, the Shockers were picked fifth in the 13-team conference, receiving 93 total points — five behind UAB in fourth and 13 ahead of Florida Atlantic in sixth. Memphis, which claimed 11 of the 13 first-place votes, was the overwhelming choice to win the league, followed by South Florida (two first-place votes) and Tulane.
In the first two seasons under Mills, the Shockers were pegged to finish eighth (eventual 12th-place finish) and fourth (eventual eighth-place finish).
Joining Giles on the preseason first team was East Carolina guard Jordan Riley, Memphis center Aaron Bradshaw, Memphis guard Dug McDaniel and Tulane guard Rowan Brumbaugh, who was also named the American Preseason Player of the Year. Florida Atlantic newcomer Josiah Parker was voted Preseason Freshman of the Year.
On the women’s side, Wichita State was picked 12th in the 13-team conference with 23 points and no Shockers made the preseason all-conference teams. South Florida received 11 of the 13 first-place votes, while senior Carla Brito was voted the Preseason Player of the Year.
American men’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll
1. Memphis, 143 (11)
2. South Florida, 128 (2)
3. Tulane, 122
4. UAB, 98
5. Wichita State, 93
6. Florida Atlantic, 80
7. North Texas, 77
8. Tulsa, 74
9. Temple, 65
10. East Carolina, 53
11. UTSA, 32
12. Rice, 27
13. Charlotte
American women’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll
1. South Florida, 143 (11)
2. UTSA, 119 (1)
3. Rice, 113 (1)
4. Temple, 107
5. Tulane, 104
6. North Texas, 95
7. East Carolina, 82
8. Tulsa, 72
9. Memphis, 52
10. Charlotte, 50
11. UAB, 38
12. Wichita State, 23
13. Florida Atlantic, 16
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