Duke's Jahlil Okafor named AP Preseason Player of the Year

Duke freshman Jahlil Okafor keeps reeling in the preseason honors.

It was announced Monday that the Chicago native became the third freshman in five years to be named to the The Associated Press' preseason All-American team and was later announced to have been selected the AP Preseason Player of the Year.

The spot on the team adds to the hype the Blue Devil big man has been receiving heading into the season, as he was also named the Preseason National Player of the Year by CBSSports.com Oct. 7.

North Carolina's Harrison Barnes in 2010 and Kansas' Andrew Wiggins in 2013 were the most recent rookies to be named AP's preseason All-American team. Both players were also named as the AP Preseason Player of the Year.

Okafor is joined on the AP All-American team by North Carolina junior point guard Marcus Paige, Wisconsin senior forward Frank Kaminsky, Louisville junior forward Montrezl Harrell and Wichita State junior point guard Fred VanVleet.

Paige was the leading vote getter, as he was selected on 57 of the 65 ballots filled out by the national media panel. Harrell was second with 56 votes.

The Associated Press also ranked the Blue Devils as the No. 4 team in the nation in the season's first AP Poll.

Duke will take on Livingstone Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium in its first exhibition of the season.