Photo: Wisconsin Badgers
Ethan Happ has joined elite company at Wisconsin.The sophomore forward from the Wisconsin men's basketball team has been recognized as an Associated Press Third-Team All-American, as announced by the AP on Tuesday.
Happ is just the sixth Badger to be named to an All-America team in the history of the Associated Press honor, which began in 1948.
"It is definitely an honor to receive such a prestigious award," Happ said. "No individual award comes without the help of others though. I want to thank my teammates, coaches and all the support I've gotten that has helped me get to this point."
Frank Kaminsky was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2015. Alando Tucker was also a first-team All-America honoree in 2007, while Jordan Taylor (2011) and Devin Harris (2004) earned second-team All-America accolades and Don Rehfeldt was a third-team All-American in 1950.
Named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the AP this season, Happ was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a late season finalist for the Wooden, Naismith and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Year awards. Happ was also a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, which recognizes the best center in the country.
Making his case as one of college basketball's best all-around players, the sophomore forward from Milan, Illinois, was the nation's only player to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals during conference play.
In fact, Happ became just the fourth major conference player of the last 20 years to lead his team in all five categories during conference play, averaging 13.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.8 steals per game during that span.
Happ helped lead Wisconsin to runner-up finishes for both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. The Badgers made their fourth straight Sweet 16 appearance – the only team in the country to make that claim – before bowing out to Florida with an 84-83 loss in overtime.
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