Gillespie, Samuels named to preseason All-Big East Second Team

The Big East announced its preseason All-Conference teams and Villanova Wildcats juniors Collin Gillespie and Jermaine Samuels are receiving some early recognition.

Both Gillespie and Samuels were named to the preseason All-Big East Second Team.

Gillespie is the team’s top-returning scorer from last season, averaging 10.9 points per game and 2.8 assists per game. He shot 40.9 percent overall and a team-best 37.9 percent from beyond the arc.

As for Samuels, he averaged 6.4 points and 5.8 rebounds. However, he came on strong towards the end of the season, with the turning point being a 29-point performance against Marquette at the Finneran Pavilion. From there, he sustained his strong play into the postseason.

Here are the preseason All-Big East Teams:

NOTE: The All-Conference First Team does not include the Preseason Player of the Year. That honor went to Seton Hall’s Myles Powell.

Preseason All-Big East First Team:
Kamar Baldwin, Butler
Ty-Shon Alexander, Creighton
Markus Howard, Marquette
Alpha Diallo, Providence
Naji Marshall, Xavier

Preseason All-Big East Second Team:
Paul Reed, DePaul
James Akinjo, Georgetown
Collin Gillespie, Villanova
Jermaine Samuels, Villanova
L.J. Figueroa, St. John’s
Mustapha Heron, St. John’s

Preseason All-Big East Honorable Mention:
Omer Yurtseven, Georgetown
Paul Scruggs, Xavier