The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Durant wins John R. Wooden Award
04.07.2007 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES -- University of Texas freshman swingman Kevin Durant has been named the winner of the 2007 John R. Wooden Award, the Wooden Award committee announced Saturday at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Durant is the first freshman to win the award, which was first presented in 1977. He is the second UT player to receive the honor, joining T.J. Ford who garnered the accolade in 2003.
Durant received 4,351 points during the Wooden Award balloting, outdistancing Greg Oden of Ohio State in second with 2,858 points. Alando Tucker (Wisconsin) placed third with 2,779 points, while Acie Law of Texas A&M (2,708 points) and Tyler Hansbrough of North Carolina (2,142 points) rounded out the top five vote-getters.
The presentation was televised live nationally by CBS. The first recipient of the Wooden Award (Marques Johnson, UCLA, 1977) was on hand to make the announcement of this year¹s winner.
Durant completed a sweep of the seven National Player of the Year awards with the Wooden Award presentation. He previously won the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, 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.
"I am humbled to receive this award," Durant said. "I'd like to congratulate Acie (Law), Alando (Tucker), Greg (Oden) and Tyler (Hansbrough), as I have a lot of respect for them and how they have handled themselves, both on and off the court. I want to thank all my teammates and coaches at Texas, as this is a team award. I look to forward to sharing this award with all of them back in Austin."
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.
