Payton Sandfort named to 2024-25 preseason All-Big Ten team

Iowa basketball forward Payton Sandfort has been named to the 10-member preseason 2024-25 All-Big Ten team.

Voted upon by a media panel, Sandfort’s preseason All-Big Ten honor means that the Hawkeyes have now been represented in five of the last six seasons. Sandfort joins Iowa’s Joe Wieskamp (2019), Luka Garza (2020), Keegan Murray (2021) and Kris Murray (2022) in that distinction.

Sandfort was named a third-team All-Big Ten choice by the media and coaches last season after averaging team highs in points and rebounds with 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game during the 2023-24 campaign.

The 6-foot-8, 215 pound forward started all 34 games last season and shot 44.6% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point distance and 91.1% from the free throw line. Sandfort’s field goal and 3-point percentages were both career-highs.

A native of Waukee, Iowa, Sandfort explored the 2024 NBA draft process before deciding upon a return to the Hawkeyes. That was huge news for Iowa as the Hawkeyes look to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last year following a stretch of four straight tourney berths.

Sandfort scored in double figures in 27 of Iowa’s 34 games last season, including a team-best 11 20-point contests. The senior forward knocked down a career-high seven 3-pointers in Iowa’s 91-82 first-round NIT victory over Kansas State last March en route to career-high totals in points (30) and rebounds (12).

Sandfort became just the second Big Ten player since 1991-92 to average 16-plus points, six-plus rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 3-point field goals per game. The Waukee High School product also recorded the first triple-double in Iowa men’s basketball history when he tallied 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in the Hawkeyes’ 90-81 win over Penn State on Feb. 27, 2024.

Purdue guard Braden Smith was chosen as the unanimous preseason Big Ten Player of the Year.

Sandfort joins a preseason All-Big Ten group that features Smith, Indiana center Oumar Ballo, Minnesota forward Dawson Garcia, Northwestern guard Brooks Barnhizer, Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton, Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad, Penn State guard Ace Baldwin Jr., Rutgers guard Dylan Harper and Washington forward Great Osobor.

Iowa opens its 2024-25 men’s college basketball season on Monday, Nov. 4 versus Texas A&M Commerce. The Hawkeyes also have one lone exhibition on Friday, Oct. 25 against Minnesota-Duluth.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.

Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF

Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire