High Praise for Sophomore Paul

Chris Paul is going to hear Tim Duncan’s name a lot this season.

The sophomore guard from Wake Forest was the leading vote-getter Tuesday on the Associated Press’ preseason All-American team, joining Duncan as the only players from the school to earn that honor.

Paul received 55 votes from a national media panel to make the team along with four seniors: Lawrence Roberts of Mississippi State (50 votes), Wayne Simien of Kansas (50), Julius Hodge of North Carolina State (41), and Hakim Warrick of Syracuse (33).

The Demon Deacons are second in the preseason top 25, matching the highest ranking in school history. The previous rankings at No. 2 came when Duncan played at Wake Forest.

Paul led the Demon Deacons to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament last season, the first time they got that far since 1997, Duncan’s last year.

“One of the hardest things for Chris to understand last year was that I trust him completely,” Wake Forest Coach Skip Prosser said. “I want him to play, not to think.”

The 6-foot Paul averaged 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season while shooting 49.6% from the field and 84.3% from the free-throw line. As his freshman season went on he became one of the premier players in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Roberts is one of two returning All-Americans from last season. Ryan Gomes of Providence is the other, but he finished sixth in the voting for the preseason team.

The 6-foot-9 Roberts started his college career at Baylor and left there when the program fell into disarray after a player was killed. He averaged 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds for the Bulldogs last season and many people thought he would leave for the NBA.

Simien averaged 17.8 points and 8.3 rebounds as a junior for the Jayhawks, the No. 1 team in the preseason rankings. The 6-9 Simien, who shot 53% from the field and 81% from the line, battled knee, shoulder and groin injuries over his first three seasons.

Hodge was the ACC player of the year last season after averaging 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Wolfpack, who finished second in the league. He was second in the conference in scoring and led it in shooting at 51.3%.

Warrick was a key member of Syracuse’s national championship team in 2002. Last season he averaged 19.8 points and 8.6 rebounds and had considered making himself available for the NBA draft before changing his mind.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Head of the Class

Wake Forest sophomore guard Chris Paul is the only underclassman on this season’s preseason All-America team:

* CHRIS PAUL Sophomore

Wake Forest, guard

Last season: 14.8 points, 5.9 assists

* LAWRENCE ROBERTS Senior

Mississippi State, forward

Last season: 16.9 points, 10.1 rebounds

* WAYNE SIMIEN Senior

Kansas, forward

Last season: 17.8 points, 8.3 rebounds

* JULIUS HODGE Senior

North Carolina State, guard-forward

Last season: 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds

* HAKIM WARRICK Senior

Syracuse, forward

Last season: 19.8 points, 8.6 rebounds