Gillespie named preseason Big East Player of the Year, Samuels, Moore earn all-conference honors

The Big East announced its individual preseason honors for the 2021-22 season.

Collin Gillespie, who earned a share of the 2020-21 Big East Player of the Year honor with teammate Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Seton Hall’s Sandro Mamukelashvili, was named the preseason Big East Player of the Year.

Teammates Jermaine Samuels and Justin Moore were named to the preseason All-Big East second team.

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Gillespie averaged 14.0 points and 4.6 assists per game last season, before going down with a leg injury towards the end of the season.

Samuels, who is also back for a fifth season, averaged 12.0 points and 6.4 rebounds. Meanwhile, Moore averaged 12.9 points and 3.0 assists.

2021-22 Big East preseason honors

Big East preseason Player of the Year

Collin Gillespie, Villanova

Big East preseason Freshman of the Year

Aminu Mohammed, Georgetown

Preseason All-Big East first team

Nate Watson, Providence
Julian Champagnie, St. John’s
Jared Rhoden, Seton Hall
Paul Scruggs, Xavier
Zach Freemantle, Xavier

Preseason All-Big East second team

R.J. Cole, UConn
Tyrese Martin, UConn
Posh Alexander, St. John’s
Justin Moore, Villanova
Jermaine Samuels, Vilanova

Preseason All-Big East honorable mention

Chuck Harris, Butler
Adama Sanogo, Seton Hall