The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Durant wins Adolph Rupp Trophy
03.27.2007 | Men's Basketball
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- University of Texas freshman swingman Kevin Durant has been named the winner of the 2007 Adolph F. Rupp Trophy, the Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky announced Tuesday. Durant will receive the Adolph Rupp Trophy as the nation's most outstanding college basketball player at a press conference in Atlanta at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (Regency Ballroom VII) on Thursday, March 29 at 5:30 p.m.
Durant is the first freshman to claim the Rupp Trophy in the award's 35-year history. The selection was made by a national committee of over 40 present and retired sports writers, coaches, television and radio broadcasters and sports administrators.
"It wasn't even close this year," said Commonwealth Athletic Club spokesman Gerry Calvert. "Durant won it going away. Considering the list of former winners, it's remarkable that he won it as a freshman."
This marks the third National Player of the Year honor for Durant, who garnered the same accolade from the National Association of Basketball Coaches last week and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association earlier today.
Durant led the Big 12 Conference in scoring (25.8 ppg), rebounding (11.1 rpg) and blocked shots (67). He is the only player in the country to rank in the Top 10 nationally in both scoring (fourth) and rebounding (fourth). Durant led the Longhorns to a 25-10 record and the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
From its inception in 1972, the Rupp Award has been considered one of the nation's most prestigious player-of-the-year awards. Former winners include: Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Ralph Sampson, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan, and most recently, J.J. Redick. The award is named after the legendary University of Kentucky coach, who retired in 1972 with 876 victories and four NCAA championships to his credit. Among men's NCAA coaches with over 500 career wins, Adolph Rupp still maintains the highest winning percentage of all time at 82.2%.
For more information on Adolph Rupp and the Rupp Awards, visit or contact the Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky at (859) 361-2941.
