Forbes, Cross Named Preseason All-AAC

DALLAS – Tulane University men's basketball seniors Jaylen Forbes and Kevin Cross were selected preseason All-American Athletic Conference, the league office announced Monday. It was also announced that the Green Wave was picked to finish third in the 2023-24 Preseason AAC Coaches Poll.

Forbes was the only player to earn unanimous selection on the Preseason All-AAC First Team. The Florence, Mississippi, product finished in the top-five in the league last season in scoring (18.5), free throw percentage (.861), steals (1.87), three-point field goal percentage (.388), three-point field goals made (2.84), and minutes played (36.54).

Cross earned his way onto the Preseason All-AAC Second Team for the second consecutive season after averaging a career-high 14.8 points to go with 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season. The senior forward was an AAC Third Team selection and NABC All-District honoree at the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign.

Tulane was voted to finish third in the league with 142 total points in the AAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Florida Atlantic was tabbed the favorite in the league receiving 11 first-place votes and a total of 167 points. Memphis received three first-place votes and 159 total points to be picked second.

American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Florida Atlantic (11)    167
2. Memphis (3)               159
3. Tulane    142
4. UAB 128
5. East Carolina 105
6. North Texas                100
7. SMU                            97
8. Wichita State             90
9. South Florida              62
10. Tulsa 59
11. Rice 56
12. Temple 49
13. Charlotte 46
14. UTSA 14
First-place votes in parenthesis

Preseason All-Conference First Team
Eric Gaines, UAB
Johnell Davis, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Alijah Martin, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Jahvon Quinerly, Sr., G, Memphis
Jaylen Forbes, Sr., G, Tulane*

Preseason All-Conference Second Team
RJ Felton, Jr., G, East Carolina
Jordan Brown, R-Sr., F, Memphis
Max Fielder, Sr., F, Rice
Zhuric Phelps, Jr., G, SMU
Kevin Cross, Sr., F, Tulane

Preseason Player of the Year
Johnell Davis, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic
Alijah Martin, Jr., G, Florida Atlantic

Preseason Rookie of the Year
Carl Cherenfant, G, Memphis
JJ Taylor, F, Memphis

* denotes unanimous selection

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Players Mentioned

Kevin Cross

Jaylen Forbes

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