The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Durant wins Naismith Trophy
04.01.2007 | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA -- University of Texas freshman swingman Kevin Durant has been named the winner of the 2007 Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, the Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Sunday night at the Georgia World Congress Center. Durant is the first freshman to win the award, which was first presented in 1969. He also is the second UT player to receive the honor, joining T.J. Ford who garnered the accolade in 2003.
This marks the sixth National Player of the Year honor for Durant. He previously won the Oscar Robertson Trophy (U.S. Basketball Writers Association), the Adolph Rupp Trophy (Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky) and was named Player of the Year by The Associated Press, the National Association of Basketball Coaches and CBS/Chevrolet. Durant also is one of five finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, which will be presented on Saturday, April 7 in Los Angeles.
"I want to congratulate the other three finalists for this award (Acie Law IV, Alando Tucker and Tyler Hansbrough)," Durant said. "I have a lot of respect for all three of them. Like anything in basketball, this is a team award, and I want to say thank you to all my teammates back in Austin. I look forward to getting back to campus to share this award with them."
Durant led the Big 12 Conference in scoring (25.8 ppg), rebounding (11.1 rpg), blocked shots (67) and double-doubles (20). 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.
"I've said many times this weekend that I firmly believe Kevin was the best player in the country this year," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "But what I appreciate more about Kevin is that he is the ultimate team player and a genuine person. To see him win the Naismith Trophy is very special, both for Kevin and for our basketball program."
