Montrezl Harrell Named First Team Preseason All-American By CBS

The preseason honors are now really starting to roll in for Montrezl Harrell, who most recently has been named a preseason first team All-American by the folks over at CBS Sports.

Harrell is joined on CBS' first team by Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet, North Carolina guard Marcus Paige, Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Duke's freshman center, Jahlil Okafor.

Of all the prospects who returned to college, Harrell's decision to delay a pro career was the most surprising, and by a wide margin. The junior forward would've been a top-20 pick, almost certainly, after averaging 14.0 points and 8.4 rebounds for a 31-win team. Now he's a preseason All-American who will play a third season of college in a third different league.

A year ago, Russ Smith became the first Cardinal since Pervis Ellison to earn a preseason first team All-America nod from the Associated Press. Now it's appearing more likely than not that Louisville will have its second player in as many years achieving the feat.