There’s a secret to Drew Gooden’s success.

“Hard work pays off,” said the 6-foot-10 Kansas basketball forward, who on Tuesday was named first-team Associated Press All-America a week after being tapped Big 12 Player of the year and first-team all-league.

KANSAS JUNIOR DREW GOODEN, right, pulls down a rebound against Baylor's Lawrence Roberts in a game this season. Gooden was named to the Associated Press' All-America team on Tuesday.

“I busted my butt last summer. All the time I was working, my goals as an individual were to make first-team All-America, being up for Player of the Year honors, just doing well for my team,” noted Gooden, who received 70 of 72 first-team votes from a media panel.

“I knew some of the goals wouldn’t take effect if we weren’t playing well,” added Gooden, joined on the first team by unanimous pick Jason Williams of Duke, plus Cincinnati’s Steve Logan, Maryland’s Juan Dixon and Gonzaga’s Dan Dickau.

“That’s when I said (in preseason), ‘Hold on, individual goals can wait. Let me focus on team goals.’ No way I would get these individual honors if it weren’t for my teammates and coach (Roy) Williams. I have to give the credit to them.”

KU’s Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison earned honorable mention status.

Gooden, who leads the Big 12 in scoring (20.4 ppg) and rebounding (11.3), is KU’s first All-American since Paul Pierce and Raef LaFrentz in 1998.

Williams

The only individual award left for Gooden is national player of the year. Duke’s Williams and Gooden are leading candidates.

“If Drew is not player of the year I think he will be second. That’s how great I think he has been,” KU coach Williams said. “He gives you a unique blend. His rebounding, shot-blocking ability and ability to put the ball on floor is something you do not find a lot of times in a 6-10 guy.”

Williams was asked where Gooden ranks on the list of players he’s coached in 14 years at KU.

“He is right there. Raef and Paul were sensational. Jacque (Vaughn) was an All-American. Those were the only kids I had who made first team All-America. Drew potentially could be as good as anybody.

“He has come a long way. Even in the times when it was frustrating (his freshman year), when I couldn’t get him to understand what I wanted him to understand, there’s never been a moment I haven’t truly enjoyed him as a kid. He has a tremendous desire to win.”

Duke’s Williams was a unanimous pick, the second straight year the junior was picked for the first team. He is the first unanimous All-American since Duke’s Elton Brand in 1999 and the 45th player to repeat.

Gooden received 70 first-place votes and 356 points, while Logan had 313 points, Dixon 301 and Dickau 248.

Logan

Logan, the two-time Conference USA player of the year, averaged 22 points and 5.2 assists. Dixon, the ACC player of the year, averaged 19.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals.

Dickau is Gonzaga’s first All-American. A transfer from Washington, Dickau averaged 20.6 points and 4.9 assists and was chosen West Coast Conference player of the year.

Duke’s Mike Dunleavy led the second team with 193 points and was joined by Stanford’s Casey Jacobsen, USC’s Sam Clancy, Xavier’s David West and Indiana’s Jared Jeffries.

Duke’s Carlos Boozer led the third team and was joined by Pitt’s Brandin Knight, Arizona’s Jason Gardner, Kentucky’s Tayshaun Prince and Alabama’s Erwin Dudley.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

Dixon

Dickau