2015 NCAA Pre-Tournament All West Regional Team

The West Region includes a lot of intriguing teams with star players. Wisconsin and Arizona look to be on a collision course to face each other for a second straight year in the Elite Eight. The Wisconsin Badgers and Arizona Wildcats are loaded with talent but there many star players on the other teams in the region as well.

Here are five players to keep your eye on throughout the West Regional games.

 

West Region

Wisconsin forward Frank Kaminsky

Kaminsky is arguably the best player in the country and leads the Badgers with 18 points and eight rebounds a game. The senior also shoots 39 percent from the three point line so he does it all for his Badgers. Kaminsky is ready to lead No. 1 seed Wisconsin to a national title after losing in the Final Four last year.

Arizona forward Stanley Johnson

This freshman star is one of the most NBA ready players in the country. Johnson has embraced the spotlight all year in Arizona as he has scored 14 points and grabbed almost seven rebounds per game. Johnson looks to lead his Wildcats to Final Four after falling just short last year.

Baylor forward Rico Gathers

The junior looks to lead Baylor on a run deep into March. The Bears have reached at least the Sweet 16 in two out the past three years. Gathers averaged 11 points and 11 rebounds per game for Baylor helping the team to a 24-9 regular season record. The 6’8”, 280 pound, forward dominates the paint and is a double-double machine.

North Carolina guard Marcus Paige

The junior guard is a floor general for the Tar Heels averaging about five assists per game. Paige leads North Carolina with scoring with just under 14 points per game. The Tar Heels hope to make a deep run into March with Paige leading the charge after advancing to the ACC Tournament Championship game.

Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell

Ohio State has been led by this freshman star all season. Russell leads the Buckeyes with 19 points a game while contributing five rebounds and five assists. The guard also shoots over 40 percent from the three point line. If the Buckeyes want to get past the first couple rounds, they will rely heavily on Russell.

 

Written by Charlie Beuttel

Photo credit: thelotterymafia.com; Arizona freshman sensation, No. 5 Stanley Johnson.