MADISON, Wis. –
Ethan Happ enters his senior season on the cusp of establishing himself as one of the best players in Wisconsin history. The two-time All-Big Ten selection and 2017 All-American is also on the national radar with a host of 2018-19 preseason recognition.
NAISMITH TROPHY PLAYER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
For the third year in a row, Happ enters the season as one of the top 50 players in the nation as determined when the Atlanta Tipoff Club
announced the watch list for the 2019 Citizen Naismith Trophy Men's Player of the Year honor on Nov. 5. This marks the sixth-straight season Wisconsin has had a player named to the Naismith preseason watch list, joining Sam Dekker (2014), Frank Kaminsky (2015),
Nigel Hayes (2016 and 2017) and
Bronson Koenig (2017).
AP PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN
The Associated Press released its
2018-19 preseason men's All-America Team on Oct. 23, including Happ as one of six selections. Happ was joined by Purdue's Carson Edwards, North Carolina's Luke Maye, Duke freshman RJ Barrett, Kansas transfer Dedric Lawson and Nevada's Caleb Martin. Happ is the fourth Wisconsin player to be tabbed an AP preseason All-American, joining Michael Finley (1994-95), Jordan Taylor (2011-12) and Frank Kaminsky (2014-15). Kaminsky went on to win AP National Player of the Year that season.
ADDITIONAL PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA NODS
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR AWARD
Happ was tabbed as one of
20 players on the watch list for the 2019 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award, as announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The watch list will be narrowed down to 10 in February and the winner will be presented at The College Basketball Awards presented by Wendy's in Los Angeles, California, on April 12, 2019.
CBS PRESEASON TOP 100
CBSSports.com released a preseason list of
the top 100 players (and one) in the country heading into the 2018-19 season, slotting Happ in at the No. 7 spot overall.
PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
At the conference's annual media day, Happ was named to
the 2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Team. He was one of two unanimous selections, along with Purdue's Carson Edwards. The list is rounded out by Romeo Langford (Indiana), Juwan Morgan (Indiana), Anthony Cowan Jr. (Maryland), Charles Matthews (Michigan), Nick Ward (Michigan State), Cassius Winston (Michigan State), Jordan Murphy (Minnesota), James Palmer Jr. (Nebraska).
