By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

One day after matching its highest ranking in the Associated Press preseason poll at No. 10, Xavier has its first AP preseason All-American in senior David West.

David West's 'X' tattoo. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

West was the leading vote-getter among the five players on the team announced Tuesday. The 6-foot-9 power forward was named on 43 of the 72 ballots, one more than Arizona's Luke Walton and four more than Walton's teammate, Jason Gardner. They are the fourth pair of teammates to be named to the preseason team since it began in 1986.

Kirk Hinrich of Kansas and Erwin Dudley of Alabama, last season's Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, completed the team.

"It's an honor, but we don't play our first regular-season game until Monday," West said. "... We all need to stay focused on getting ready for the first game."

West averaged 18.3 points and 9.8 rebounds last season and was named the Atlantic 10's Player of the Year for the second time while receiving a second-team All-America award. West is a finalist for both national player-of-the-year awards, the John Wooden and James Naismith trophies.

Last season, Duke's Jason Williams was the only player on the preseason team to be named a postseason first-team All-American.

The Associated Press' 2002-03 preseason All-America team, with school, year, height, position, votes from a 72-member national media panel and averages from last season:

• David West, Xavier, sr, 6-9, f, 43, 18.3 pts, 9.8 rebs.

• Luke Walton, Arizona, sr, 6-8, f, 42, 15.7 pts, 7.3 rebs.

• Jason Gardner, Arizona, sr, 5-10, g, 39, 20.4 pts, 4.6 asts.

• Kirk Hinrich, Kansas, sr, 6-3, g, 35, 14.8 pts, 5.0 asts.

• Erwin Dudley, Alabama, sr, 6-8, f, 32, 15.2 pts, 8.9 rebs.

Others receiving votes (in alphabetical order): Mario Austin, Mississippi State; Troy Bell, Boston College; Steve Blake, Maryland; Nick Collison, Kansas; Jason Conley, VMI; Chris Davis, North Texas; Chris Duhon, Duke; T.J. Ford, Texas; Reece Gaines, Louisville; Jarvis Hayes, Georgia; Jason Kapono, UCLA; Brandin Knight, Pittsburgh; Chris Marcus, Western Kentucky; Emeka Okafor, Connecticut; Rickey Paulding, Missouri; Hollis Price, Oklahoma; Rick Rickert, Minnesota; Luke Ridnour, Oregon; Michael Sweetney, Georgetown; Chris Thomas, Notre Dame; Dwayne Wade, Marquette; Mo Williams, Alabama.