Ohio State F Deshaun Thomas named third team AP All-American

Despite a tough end to the Ohio State's 2012-2013 men's basketball season, Buckeye basketball fans got a (slight) silver lining Monday afternoon when star forward Deshaun Thomas was named a third team All-American, as voted by the Associated Press.

Thomas entered '12/'13 with high expectations, being named an preseason AP All-American. Though you definitely couldn't say Thomas failed to live up to expectations, having to play so many minutes and register so many shots early in the season definitely took a toll on his effectiveness later on in the season. This was particularly evident in the latter portions of the '13 Big Ten Tournament.

Michigan's Trey Burke and Cody Zeller, who joined Thomas as preseason AP All-Americans, lived up to their projected promise as both were name first team AP All-Americans. Joining them were Doug McDermott of Creighton (also a preseason All-America), Georgetown's Otto Porter Jr., Indiana's Victor Oladipo, and Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk. Burke and Oladipo are widely expected to be the two finalists for the Naismith Award honoring college basketball's best (much as they were for the Big Ten's player of the year honor).

Now the only question remains is whether or not Thomas will return for his senior season. It's widely expected he'll declare himself eligible for the 2013 NBA Draft, but will have until April 28th to make such a decision official.