By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Iowa City — Iowa senior Luka Garza has become the first University of Iowa men’s basketball player to be voted first-team All-America by the Associated Press in consecutive seasons.
Garza received every vote, becoming the only unanimous selection by the 63-person media voting panel.
Joining Garza on the first team are Ayo Dosunmu of Illinois, Gonzaga’s Corey Kispert, Jared Butler of Baylor, and Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham.
Garza has led the eighth-ranked Hawkeyes to 21 victories this season, including wins in eight of their last 10 contests.
The D.C. native leads the nation in total points and 30-point games.
The two-time Big Ten Player of the Year averaged 21.9 points per game during the 20-game conference schedule, becoming just the third player since 1990 to lead the Big Ten in scoring in consecutive seasons.
No. 2 seed Iowa (21-8) will open NCAA Tournament play on Saturday against 15th-seeded Grand Canyon (17-6).
Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 5:25 p.m. in Indianapolis.