Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cunningham Named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year
October 28, 2020 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State star freshman Cade Cunningham was named the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year as well as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league's coaches.
Cunningham is the fourth Cowboy to be selected as the Big 12's Preseason Freshman of the Year, and the first since Marcus Smart and Le'Bryan Nash earned the honors in 2012-13 and 2011-12, respectively. Desmond Mason was named the league's top freshman entering the Big 12's inaugural season in 1996-97.
He is now the 13th Cowboy to earn a spot on the five-member Preseason All-Big 12 squad, and the first since Jeffrey Carroll in 2017-18.
The list of accolades continues to grow for Cunningham, who was named a Preseason First-Team All-American by CBS Sports on Tuesday. Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook touted Cunningham as the National Newcomer of the Year, while Andy Katz ranked him No. 3 on the list of the preseason national player of the year candidates.
The winner of the 2020 Naismith High School Player of the Year Trophy, Cunningham also earned national high school player of the year honors from MaxPreps and Mr. Basketball USA, and was named the nation's top recruit by ESPN, 247Sports, Rivals, USA Today, MaxPreps and Ball Is Life.
Cunningham was the centerpiece of Oklahoma State's recruiting class, which was ranked No. 4 nationally by Rivals. Four-star OKC guard Rondel Walker joins two-time BioSteel All-Canadian Player of the Year Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, as well as Nebraska's Mr. Basketball, Donovan Williams.
Graduate transfer Ferron Flavors Jr. led the WAC in 3-point shooting last season, and Montreal Pena is a three-star forward listed among the top-40 players at his position nationally. Bryce Williams and Bernard Kouma joined the Cowboys in July and add a veteran presence to the squad.
The signing class joins All-Big 12 guard Isaac Likekele and the Boone Twins, Keylan and Kalib, to make for a potent Cowboy lineup.
Oklahoma State is slated to begin the season on Nov. 25. To add your name to the season-ticket waiting list with just a $100 deposit, please click here.
Cunningham is the fourth Cowboy to be selected as the Big 12's Preseason Freshman of the Year, and the first since Marcus Smart and Le'Bryan Nash earned the honors in 2012-13 and 2011-12, respectively. Desmond Mason was named the league's top freshman entering the Big 12's inaugural season in 1996-97.
He is now the 13th Cowboy to earn a spot on the five-member Preseason All-Big 12 squad, and the first since Jeffrey Carroll in 2017-18.
The list of accolades continues to grow for Cunningham, who was named a Preseason First-Team All-American by CBS Sports on Tuesday. Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook touted Cunningham as the National Newcomer of the Year, while Andy Katz ranked him No. 3 on the list of the preseason national player of the year candidates.
The winner of the 2020 Naismith High School Player of the Year Trophy, Cunningham also earned national high school player of the year honors from MaxPreps and Mr. Basketball USA, and was named the nation's top recruit by ESPN, 247Sports, Rivals, USA Today, MaxPreps and Ball Is Life.
Cunningham was the centerpiece of Oklahoma State's recruiting class, which was ranked No. 4 nationally by Rivals. Four-star OKC guard Rondel Walker joins two-time BioSteel All-Canadian Player of the Year Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe, as well as Nebraska's Mr. Basketball, Donovan Williams.
Graduate transfer Ferron Flavors Jr. led the WAC in 3-point shooting last season, and Montreal Pena is a three-star forward listed among the top-40 players at his position nationally. Bryce Williams and Bernard Kouma joined the Cowboys in July and add a veteran presence to the squad.
The signing class joins All-Big 12 guard Isaac Likekele and the Boone Twins, Keylan and Kalib, to make for a potent Cowboy lineup.
Oklahoma State is slated to begin the season on Nov. 25. To add your name to the season-ticket waiting list with just a $100 deposit, please click here.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Cowboy Basketball
G
/ Cowboy Basketball
F
/ Cowboy Basketball
G
/ Cowboy Basketball
F
/ Cowboy Basketball
G
/ Cowboy Basketball
G
/ Cowboy Basketball
G
/ Cowboy BasketballFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
