IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior forward Payton Sandfort has been named to the 10-player preseason All-Big Ten team, it was announced Tuesday by the league office.
The Hawkeyes have been represented on the preseason All-Big Ten team in five of the last six seasons, voted upon by a selected panel of media. Previous honorees include: Joe Wieskamp (2019), Luka Garza (2020), Keegan Murray (2021) and Kris Murray (2022).
Sandfort has also been named to Blue Ribbon’s preseason first-team All-Big Ten team and he has been tabbed as one of the best seniors and sharp shooters in college basketball by Andy Katz on NCAA.com.
The 6-foot-8, 215 pound forward put up career-best numbers across the board during the 2023-24 season, averaging 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from distance and 91.1 percent from the free throw stripe. He ranked second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage, third in 3-point percentage, eighth in scoring, 12th in field goal percentage and 13th in rebounding en route to third-team All-Big Ten honors.
The Waukee, Iowa, native scored in double figures in 27 games and posted a team-best 11 20-point contests, including a career-best 30-point, 12-rebound outing in Iowa’s NIT First Round win over Kansas State. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers in the victory.
During the season, Sandfort was one of the best shooters in the Big Ten, leading the league with 94 3-point field goals. He made two or more 3s in 27 games, three or more in 17 games and four or more 12 times. The 94 makes ranked in the top 40 nationally.
Sandfort, who became just the second Big Ten Player since 1992-92 to average 16+ points, 6+ rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 3-point field goals, made Iowa history during a Feb. 27 victory over Penn State. He recorded the first triple-double in program history, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in the game.
The Hawkeyes will host Minnesota-Duluth in an exhibition game on Oct. 25 before facing Texas A&M Commerce in the regular season opener on Nov. 4. Game times and television will be announced at a later date.
2024-25 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Oumar Ballo, Indiana
Payton Sandfort, Iowa
Dawson Garcia, Minnesota
Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
Ace Baldwin, Jr., Penn State
Braden Smith, Purdue*
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Great Osobor, Washington
*denotes unanimous selection
Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Braden Smith, Purdue
