Utah's Best: Bogut, Jackson, Nelson unanimous picks on 1st team

In terms of shock value, this ranks right up there with "Utah votes Republican" and "sun rises in East."

Nonetheless, University of Utah star Andrew Bogut has been named the Deseret Morning News' all-state college basketball Player of the Year, based upon a survey of the sports department's editors and reporters.

It's just the latest honor for Bogut, who helped lead the Utes to the Mountain West Conference regular-season championship and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

The 7-foot Australian was one of three players who were unanimous selections to the DMN all-state first team, along with Ute teammate Marc Jackson and Utah State's Spencer Nelson. Weber State center Lance Allred and UVSC guard Ronnie Price round out the first team.

However, none of those five players will return to their respective schools next season. Bogut, a sophomore, has declared that he will enter the NBA draft in June, and he is projected by many observers as the No. 1 pick overall.

The other four players on the DMN's all-state first team are seniors, having exhausted their college eligibility.

Bogut has piled up a room full of hardware for his performance this season, highlighted by the Naismith Trophy and John R. Wooden Award. He was also named the Player of the Year by the Associated Press, ESPN.com and Basketball Times.

Bogut (20.6 points, 12.2 rebounds) and Allred (17.8 points, 12 rebounds) both averaged double-doubles this season and they finished Nos. 2 and 3 nationally in rebounding.

Allred began his career at Utah but wound up transferring to Weber State, where he started for the Wildcats for two seasons. He made significant improvement from his junior campaign, when he averaged 11.7 points and six rebounds per contest. The former Utah Gatorade Player of the Year at East High (1998-99) bulked up during the off-season, adding 25 pounds to his 6-foot-11 frame, and participated in an intense summer conditioning program.

Jackson averaged 10.7 points and dished out 111 assists this season as the Utes' point guard after taking a year off from basketball. Jackson left the Utah program due to conflicts with former coach Rick Majerus, but he returned not long after the Utes hired Ray Giacoletti. Jackson earned All-MWC first-team honors.