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LJ Cryer, Jamal Shead Earn Preseason All-Big 12 Honors
10/11/2023 6:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Cryer earns place on five-man All-Big 12 Team; Shead receives Honorable Mention
HOUSTON – Preparing for the program's first season in a new league, University of Houston senior guard LJ Cryer and senior point guard Jamal Shead earned places on the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team, the league announced Thursday afternoon.
Cryer was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team while Shead was one of 11 student-athletes to receive Honorable Mention in voting by the league's head coaches.
Cryer was joined on the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team by Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr, TCU forward Emanuel Miller and Texas guard Max Abmas.
Dickinson was named the league's Preseason Player and Newcomer of the Year. Baylor forward Ja'Kobe Walter was recognized as the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Shead was joined as an Honorable Mention by Walter, Jalen Bridges (Baylor), RayJ Dennis (Baylor), Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas), Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State), Tylor Perr (Kansas State), Dylan Disu (Texas), Tyrese Hunter (Texas), Dillon Mitchell (Texas) and Jesse Edwards (West Virginia).
ABOUT LJ CRYER
Cryer is in his first season at Houston in 2023-24 after transferring from Baylor during the summer.
A three-year letterman during an award-winning career, Cryer earned 2022-23 All-Big 12 and USBWA All-District VII Team recognition after averaging 15.0 points per game while hitting 45.3 percent (163-of-360) from the field, including 41.5 percent (80-of-193) from behind the arc.
The Katy, Texas, native set Baylor's NCAA Tournament scoring record with 30 points against rv/#22 Creighton and posted the program's single-season free throw percentage record at 89.4 percent (59-of-66).
As a freshman, Cryer competed in 20 games while helping lead the Bears to the Big 12 title and the NCAA national championship.
Cryer was an award-winning star at Morton Ranch High School, where he finished his career with 3,488 points, the fifth-highest total in Texas public school history. He was named to the TABC Class 6A All-State Team and was tabbed 2020 All-Greater Houston Basketball Player of the Year by the Houston Chronicle.
ABOUT JAMAL SHEAD
Shead has been a leader with the Cougars for three seasons and enters the 2023-24 season with 460 career assists to rank seventh in school history.
As a junior a year ago, he was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 10.5 points per game with a team-high 200 assists. The Manor, Texas, native joined Houston great Reid Gettys as the only players in school history with multiple seasons with 200+ assists.
Shead was one of only 10 student-athletes to rank among the nation's Top-30 leaders in both assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
In 2021-22, Shead led Houston to the NCAA Elite and was named to the NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team, becoming only the third sophomore in school history to earn that honor, joining Hakeem Olajuwon (1984) and Elvin Hayes (1968).
PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 CONFERENCE TEAM
BUY 2023-24 TICKETS
The Cougars have sold out of their season ticket allotment inside Fertitta Center for the 2023-24 season.
Information about group and single-game tickets will be available soon.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win as we begin Big 12 competition. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
Cryer was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Team while Shead was one of 11 student-athletes to receive Honorable Mention in voting by the league's head coaches.
Cryer was joined on the Preseason All-Big 12 Conference Team by Kansas center Hunter Dickinson, Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr, TCU forward Emanuel Miller and Texas guard Max Abmas.
Dickinson was named the league's Preseason Player and Newcomer of the Year. Baylor forward Ja'Kobe Walter was recognized as the Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year.
Shead was joined as an Honorable Mention by Walter, Jalen Bridges (Baylor), RayJ Dennis (Baylor), Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas), Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State), Tylor Perr (Kansas State), Dylan Disu (Texas), Tyrese Hunter (Texas), Dillon Mitchell (Texas) and Jesse Edwards (West Virginia).
ABOUT LJ CRYERCryer is in his first season at Houston in 2023-24 after transferring from Baylor during the summer.
A three-year letterman during an award-winning career, Cryer earned 2022-23 All-Big 12 and USBWA All-District VII Team recognition after averaging 15.0 points per game while hitting 45.3 percent (163-of-360) from the field, including 41.5 percent (80-of-193) from behind the arc.
The Katy, Texas, native set Baylor's NCAA Tournament scoring record with 30 points against rv/#22 Creighton and posted the program's single-season free throw percentage record at 89.4 percent (59-of-66).
As a freshman, Cryer competed in 20 games while helping lead the Bears to the Big 12 title and the NCAA national championship.
Cryer was an award-winning star at Morton Ranch High School, where he finished his career with 3,488 points, the fifth-highest total in Texas public school history. He was named to the TABC Class 6A All-State Team and was tabbed 2020 All-Greater Houston Basketball Player of the Year by the Houston Chronicle.
ABOUT JAMAL SHEADShead has been a leader with the Cougars for three seasons and enters the 2023-24 season with 460 career assists to rank seventh in school history.
As a junior a year ago, he was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year while averaging 10.5 points per game with a team-high 200 assists. The Manor, Texas, native joined Houston great Reid Gettys as the only players in school history with multiple seasons with 200+ assists.
Shead was one of only 10 student-athletes to rank among the nation's Top-30 leaders in both assists per game and assist-turnover ratio.
In 2021-22, Shead led Houston to the NCAA Elite and was named to the NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team, becoming only the third sophomore in school history to earn that honor, joining Hakeem Olajuwon (1984) and Elvin Hayes (1968).
PRESEASON ALL-BIG 12 CONFERENCE TEAM
| Name | School | Pos. | Ht. | Cl. | Hometown/Previous School(s) |
| LJ Cryer | Houston | G | 6-1 | Sr. | Katy, Texas/Morton Ranch HS/Baylor |
| Hunter Dickinson | Kansas | C | 7-2 | Sr. | Alexandria, Va./Dematha Catholic HS/Michigan |
| Dajuan Harris Jr. | Kansas | G | 6-2 | Jr. | Columbia, Mo/Rock Bridge |
| Emanuel Miller | TCU | F | 6-7 | Sr. | Scarborough, Ontario, Canada/Prolific Prep [Calif.]/Texas A&M |
| Max Abmas | Texas | G | 6-0 | Gr. | Rockwall, Texas/Jesuit College Prep/Oral Roberts |
| Honorable Mention Jamal Shead (Houston), Jalen Bridge (Baylor), RayJ Dennis (Baylor), Ja'Kobe Walter (Baylor), Kevin McCullar Jr. (Kansas), Arthur Kaluma (Kansas State), Tylor Perr (Kansas State), Dylan Disu (Texas), Tyrese Hunter (Texas), Dillon Mitchell (Texas), Jesse Edwards (West Virginia) |
BUY 2023-24 TICKETS
The Cougars have sold out of their season ticket allotment inside Fertitta Center for the 2023-24 season.
Information about group and single-game tickets will be available soon.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win as we begin Big 12 competition. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the 50-50-CLUB
Fans are invited to join the 50-50 Club to support Houston Men's Basketball. 50-50 Club members help fund program necessities and enhance the experience for our student-athletes.
Fans who join the 50-50 Club will receive embroidered Jordan Brand team apparel, invitations to exclusive events, regular updates about the program and much more.
For more information or to sign up, fans may visit uhcougars.com/5050club or click here. To join the 50-50 Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMBK on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMBK or by visiting the team's Instagram page at UHCougarMBK.
– UHCougars.com –
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