OU Forward Is Preseason Big 12 Newcomer Of the Year

Junior forward Amath M'Baye (pronounced ah-MOTT EM-by) has been selected by the Big 12 head men's basketball coaches as the league's preseason newcomer of the year.

M'Baye, a 6-9, 215-pounder from Bordeaux, France, is a transfer who played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Wyoming. He started all 31 games as a sophomore in 2010-11, averaging 12.0 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds while shooting .475 from the field in an average of 30.3 minutes per outing. He added 29 blocks and 22 steals.

As a freshman, M'Baye played in 21 games (all off the bench) and averaged 5.6 points and 3.2 boards in an average of 19.9 minutes.

Earlier this week, M'Baye's teammates voted him as the squad's best overall athlete, hardest worker, best dunker and most likely to star in the NBA.

The Big 12 preseason poll will be announced next week.

The Sooners play their first exhibition game Friday, Nov. 2, against Washburn at Lloyd Noble Center.