Aug. 13
What a way to spend the summer, baby! While working on selecting my various All-America teams, I'm strolling on the beach in Siesta Key, Florida!

Yes, I'm trying to concentrate on those All-Rolls Royce teams, trying to whet the appetite of fans during the offseason. The sun is shining, it's 92 degrees and all I see is bikinis all over the place! Nothing like a day with breakfast at The Broken Egg, a stroll on the beach and hoops talk, baby! It is awesome with a capital A!

College basketball will be dominated by point guards this season, so this was the toughest position to select.

Speaking of awesome, this is going to be another great season for college basketball fans. Do you want proof of that? Just look at all the talented players!

It's difficult selecting All-America teams for the upcoming season. I'm not talking about picking the best five overall players in college, because anybody could do that.

In this series, I'm picking the top teams position-by-position. College basketball will be dominated by point guards this season, so this was the toughest position to select.

Think about the baseball All-Star game -- you don't have nine Randy Johnsons or Curt Schillings! You don't have only shortstops. In hoops, it's point guard, shooting guard, big forward, scoring forward and the big man in the lane. Sure, with these teams there are players who will cross over and see time in different positions and roles.

For those who think college basketball is dead, think again. Yes, a few guys went right from high school to the NBA like Kwame Brown. But there is still an abundance of star talent in the college ranks.

In this series, I'll pick six All-America teams, the cream of the crop. But first, let's look at a "dazzling dozen" who are knocking on the door -- 12 Honorable Mention players just short of my six All-America squads. Remember, being a preseason All-American doesn't mean as much as making it in the postseason. Something tells me there will be drastic changes as the season progresses.

For now, this should serve as fodder for conversation. Here we go, baby, starting with part one:

Honorable Mention Dazzling Dozen Solid Gold Performers for 2001-02
Caron Butler, Connecticut
David Bluthenthal, USC
Kevin Braswell, Georgetown
Brian Cook, Illinois
Melvin Ely, Fresno State
Jason Gardner, Arizona
Rod Grizzard, Alabama
Kevin Lyde, Temple
Chris Owens, Texas
Justin Reed, Mississippi
Preston Shumpert, Syracuse
Kelly Wise, Memphis

Tito Maddox of Fresno State was initially a member of the Honorable Mention team but has since been dismissed from the Bulldogs for accepting tickets from an agent (Brian Cook took his Honorable Mention place).

Luke Recker of Iowa would have been on one of the six All-American teams, but I'm waiting to see how he does coming off last season's surgery.

Look at the names on this honorable mention list -- there is solid talent. That should tell you a lot about the potential of the upcoming season. Check back as I unveil my other All-America teams!