University of Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson from Huntington was named to the five-player men’s basketball preseason All-American team of The Associated Press.

A 65-member national media panel selected the team led by Notre Dame senior forward Luke Harangody, the leader in votes with 57. The squad also includes Kansas teammates Cole Aldrich (49 votes) and Sherron Collins (39), Patterson (35) and Kyle Singler from Duke (30).

Patterson is the son of Buster and Tywanna Patterson.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound junior was also unanimously selected Monday for the preseason All-Southeastern Conference team.

He was an All-SEC first team choice last season and the only player in the league ranked in the top five for scoring (17.9) and rebounding (9.3). He recorded 15 double-doubles while shooting 60.3 percent from the field and making 76.8 percent at the free throw line.

Patterson is expected to be more of an inside presence this season with the addition of freshman point guard John Wall to new coach John Calipari’s offense.

Wall was among other players receiving All-American votes along with West Virginia’s Da’Sean Butler and Devin Ebanks and Ohio State’s Evan Turner.

Harangody averaged 23.3 points and 11.8 rebounds last season, the only player to rank in the top 10 nationally in both categories. He was a preseason All-American in 2008-09 and was selected to the second team after the season.

Aldrich’s stock rose all last season and it culminated with the first official triple-double in Kansas history when he had 13 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks in a second-round NCAA win over Dayton. He averaged 14.9 points and 11.1 rebounds.

Collins didn’t become a full-time starter until last season when he averaged 18.9 points and 5.0 assists in earning third-team All-American honors. He and Aldrich are the stars of a deep Kansas team picked No. 1 in the preseason Top 25.

Singler averaged 16.5 points and 7.7 rebounds last season for the Blue Devils.

 

AP Video

The Associated Press

Returning Kentucky starter Patrick Patterson walks in front of national championship banners during the team's NCAA college basketball media day in Lexington, Ky., on Thursday.