Race Relations Report on College Hoops All-Americans
CollegeHoopedia.com has conducted extensive research on trailblazing African-Americans who broke the color barrier at current DI schools. But amid ESPN's stereotypical bombarding the airwaves for six weeks with politically-correct segments from MLK's birthday through Black History month in February, it could be worth assessing the racial overtones of college basketball through the current minority prism of the white player.
There is some credence to refraining from judging a book by its cover. But the last time a majority of the NCAA consensus All-American first-team selections were white was 1969-70 (LSU's Pete Maravich, Purdue's Rick Mount and Kentucky's Dan Issel). Non-whites accounted for more than 83 percent of the NCAA consensus All-American first- and second-selections since the shot clock was introduced nationwide in 1985-86. Alarmists might beg to differ, but the white American player hasn't exactly slipped into extinction. In 2008-09, North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough became the first Caucasian four-time All-American since La Salle's Tom Gola (1952 through 1955).
Clearly, the only "Great White Hopes" with any realistic chance of becoming an NCAA consensus first-team All-American this year were Purdue's Robbie Hummel, Creighton's Doug McDermott and North Carolina's Tyler Zeller. Hummel's first-team prospects faded by mid-season but, after returning from major knee surgery, it will still be a significant achievement even if he is a second- or third-team choice. After all, the only individual ever to return to All-American status following a medical redshirt was Kentucky center Sam Bowie, who achieved the feat in 1983-84 after missing the previous two seasons because of a leg injury. Meanwhile, Zeller's play picked up in ACC competition although probably not enough to propel him to first-team status.
As for McDermott, he averaged 25.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in three non-league victories over Big Ten Conference members. But according to a politically-direct UCF study several years ago, McDermott faces an uphill climb inasmuch as less than 1/3 of NCAA Division I players are white. Last year, BYU's Jimmer Fredette joined the following alphabetical list of only 18 different white players, four from Duke, named as an NCAA consensus first-team All-American in the last 30 seasons:
White First-Team All-American, Position, School (Season)
Steve Alford, G, Indiana (1985-86 and 1986-87)
Andrew Bogut, C, Utah (2004-05)
Nick Collison, F, Kansas (2002-03)
Dan Dickau, G, Gonzaga (2001-02)
Danny Ferry, F, Duke (1988-89)
Jimmer Fredette, G, Brigham Young (2010-11)
Tyler Hansbrough, F-C, North Carolina (2006-07 through 2008-09)
Bobby Hurley, G, Duke (1992-93)
Casey Jacobsen, F-G, Stanford (2000-01)
Christian Laettner, F-C, Duke (1991-92)
Raef LaFrentz, F-C, Kansas (1996-97 and 1997-98)
Kevin Love, C, UCLA (2007-08)
Chris Mihm, C, Texas (1999-2000)
Adam Morrison, F, Gonzaga (2005-06)
Chris Mullin, G, St. John's (1984-85)
Troy Murphy, F, Notre Dame (1999-2000 and 2000-01)
J.J. Redick, G, Duke (2004-05 and 2005-06)
Keith Van Horn, F, Utah (1996-97)