NEW ORLEANS — Anthony Davis was named The Associated Press’ college basketball Player of the Year, the first Kentucky player and second freshman to win the award.
Davis received 43 votes Friday from the 65-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Balloting was done before the NCAA tournament.
“The season has been great so far,” Davis said Thursday before the award was announced. “Coach Cal has told us ‘win or lose, we have had an awesome season.’ I love our team, we have accomplished many goals and we still have one goal to accomplish, winning a national title.”
The 6-foot-10 player from Chicago is the Southeastern Conference’s Player, Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 14.3 points, 10.0 rebounds and 4.6 blocks while shooting 64.2 percent. His block total is a school record and third best for a freshman.
Kevin Durant of Texas in 2007 is the only other freshman to win the award.
Thomas Robinson of Kansas was second with 20 votes, and Draymond Green of Michigan State received the other two votes.
Jimmer Fredette of BYU won the award last season.
AP ALL-AMERICA TEAMS
FIRST TEAM
Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Draymond Green, Michigan St.
Doug McDermott, Creighton
Thomas Robinson, Kansas
Jared Sullinger, Ohio St.
SECOND TEAM
Isaiah Canaan, Murray St.
Jae Crowder, Marquette
Marcus Denmon, Missouri
Kevin Jones, West Virginia
Tyler Zeller, North Carolina
THIRD TEAM
John Jenkins, Vanderbilt,
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky
Damian Lillard, Weber St.
Kendall Marshall, North Carolina
Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas
(The AP contributed)
UofA BJ / March 30, 2012
Here come the KU trolls bitchin
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tim4duke / March 30, 2012
Will he keep it when the facts about the 75 thousand comes out?
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GasCan / March 30, 2012
Actually tim, the rumor was $200K, and if you’re going to troll at least get your “facts” right.
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BostonCat / March 30, 2012
way to go AD!
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mikemiller13 / March 30, 2012
Greetings bear down, the west is rising nation trash from my new Orleans hotel. Uofa where is your team? Your team, coach, and tradition is nothing. Rock chalk to you and to your clueless fanbase from the final 4 down here in new orleans. Congrats to Davis on a great year
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UofA BJ / March 30, 2012
Hope you got an early checkout Sunday mike.
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icanpartseas / March 30, 2012
This kid is raising a lot of eyebrow.
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fearthephog25 / March 30, 2012
Blow Job is just mad because zona gets to raise another NIT Participant Banner. LOL Blown out in first round nit by powerhouse bucknell.
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UofA BJ / March 31, 2012
That was Arizonas first bit appearance since 1951.
Again you wrong
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BostonCat / March 31, 2012
davis wins the wooden award as well. congrats again to AD.
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mikemiller13 / March 31, 2012
Uofa, who was your last game against and remind me what tournament it was and why it mattered?
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mikemiller13 / March 31, 2012
Boston, why did you never reply to Davis being 3 of 19 stepping out? I thought you weren’t trying to reach and say he can shoot the 3?
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BostonCat / March 31, 2012
he can…has that ability. just never really got it rolling this year. but he is more then capable of. he just does everything and does it very very well.
davis is sweeping the awards. at some point i hope ku fans realize it isn’t about hype or potential but rather davis is just the best player in the nation and its not close. everyone else seems to think so.
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mikemiller13 / March 31, 2012
Again, 3 of 19? And your reply is he can…..? Ok, I’ll leave you alone
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BostonCat / March 31, 2012
i guess i don’t get what you are getting at? watch the kid play…gorgeous stroke.
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fearthephog25 / March 31, 2012
Anthony Davis = Hasheem Thabeet. LOL Ask Thabeet where his skinny ass shot blocking got him in the NBA? It got him traded to the Trailblazers because he was deemed too skinny and useless against NBA Bigs.
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UofA BJ / April 1, 2012
Anthony Davis was a guard until senior year in high school when he grew almost 10 inches. So he can obviously shot and will only get better. Bottom line is he has a different skill set than everyone else and he scores very efficiently. And 4.6 blk speaks 4 itself.
How great is upcoming draft going to be?
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