[2] These teams have drawn from two to six major media sources over the years, and are intended to reflect the opinions of most college basketball experts.
[4] The top ten schools with the most consensus first-team All-Americans are listed below, ranked by total number of selections.
The first team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), consisted of: Rod Thorn of West Virginia, Ken Charlton of Colorado, Gerry Ward of Boston College, Art Becker of Arizona State and Ray Flynn of Providence.
Through 2020 In 1986, the Associated Press named the first preseason All-America team for the 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.
He was joined on the team by Steve Alford of Indiana, Danny Manning of Kansas, Kenny Smith of North Carolina and Pervis Ellison of Louisville.