America’s Best

Two of the players who decided to pass on the NBA draft and return to college basketball tied as the leading vote-getters on the the Associated Press’ preseason All-America team.

Wake Forest center Tim Duncan and Villanova guard Kerry Kittles each received 55 votes from the 64-member national media panel and were joined on the team by Connecticut guard Ray Allen, who had 49 votes, Massachusetts center Marcus Camby, 32, and Oklahoma forward Ryan Minor, 22.

Kansas point guard Jacque Vaughn was next with 20.

Jerry Tarkanian, who came out of retirement this year to coach Fresno State, is one of five coaches, 14 players and one contributor whose names were submitted by a nominating committee for consideration by the Hall of Fame’s Honors Committee.

Also on the college basketball standout list were Texas-El Paso coach Don Haskins, Houston coach Guy Lewis, longtime college and professional coach Tex Winter, and Antonio Dias-Miguel, who coached Spain’s National Team for 27 years.

Among those nominated as players were George Gervin, one of the game’s most prolific scorers; Jo Jo White, who helped boost the Celtics to two NBA titles after starring at Kansas; defensive ace Dennis Johnson and David Thompson, who led North Carolina State to the NCAA title in 1974.