AP honor makes Kaminsky a consensus All-American
March 30, 2015 | Men's Basketball
March 30, 2015
MADISON, Wis. -- Few players in the country had a breakout season like Frank Kaminsky did last year. The Wisconsin senior proved it was no fluke, playing out one of the best seasons in program history in 2014-15 en route to being named first-team All-America by the Associated Press on Monday.
One of five All-Americans recognized by the AP, Kaminsky was the only to earn unanimous selection. The Lisle, Illinois, native joins Alando Tucker (2007) as the only AP first-team All-Americans at Wisconsin.
"It's cool to be named first-team All-American. It's something you dream of as a kid," Kaminsky said. "To finally be able to do so, it's a good thing and it shows how hard I've worked in my career. To be up there with Alando Tucker is a pretty cool thing."
Combined with first-team nods by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, United States Basketball Writers Association and Sporting News, the AP honor makes Kaminsky a consensus first-team All-American. Wisconsin has had 18 individuals earn a total of 21 consensus first-team All-America honors. UW's 18 consensus All-Americans ranks third among all Division I schools.
Just the third preseason AP All-American in school history, Kaminsky validated the early accolades by winning 2015 Big Ten Player of the Year and producing a resume worthy of National Player of the Year consideration. This season, Kaminsky leads the Badgers in points (18.7), rebounds (8.0), assists (99), blocks (54), field goal percentage (.549) and 3-point field goal percentage (.415).
The 7-footer hasn't shied away from the big stage, either. Kaminsky has led Wisconsin in back-to-back Final Four runs, including an average of 22.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 51.7 percent field goal shooting and 62.5 percent 3-point shooting through four NCAA tournament games this year.
"Not to be overly patriotic, but we're an American story, that you can do that in this kind of a system," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. "Sometimes where it looks like the privileged, the ones that are identified as being great players and can't-miss-type guys, where there can always come that guy from behind in the race and then cross the tape first.
"Frank is that guy who got a little bit later start as far as people noticing his abilities, but that's just a great accomplishment on his part. ... He took advantage of a chance and has made the most of it."
