Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year

Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham was named the 2020-21 Big 12 preseason freshman of the year and preseason All-Big 12 selection by the league’s coaches Wednesday.

Cunningham, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2020 class, is the projected No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound guard was the 2020 Naismith High School Player of the Year.

Cunningham is the fourth OSU player to be selected as the Big 12’s preseason freshman of the year. Marcus Smart (2012-13), Le’Bryan Nash (2011-12) and Desmond Mason (1996-97) are the others.

Baylor’s Jared Butler and Texas Tech’s Marcus Santos-Silva were named the Big 12 preseason player of the year and newcomer of the year, respectively. Kansas’ Marcus Garrett, Oklahoma’s Austin Reaves, Texas’ Matt Coleman III and West Virginia’s Oscar Tshiebwe joined Butler and Cunningham on the preseason All-Big 12 team.

OSU is scheduled to begin its season Nov. 25 at the Golden Window showcase in Lincoln, Nebraska. Game details and opponents have yet to be announced.