Cooper Flagg of Duke was named The Associated Press men’s college basketball Player of the Year on Friday, becoming just the fourth freshman to earn the recognition.
Flagg garnered 41 votes and Johni Broome of Auburn earned 21 in the polling of a national media panel. They were the only two players to receive votes.
A 6-foot-9 forward from Newport, Maine, Flagg is one of eight Blue Devils to win the award, a record. Among them is Zion Williamson, who in 2019 won as a freshman.
Other freshmen honored with the Player of the Year were Anthony Davis (Kentucky, 2012) and Kevin Durant (Texas, 2007).
Williamson, Davis and Durant all were selected No. 1 or 2 in the NBA draft, and Flagg is expected to be chosen with the top pick in the 2025 draft in June.
Flagg led Duke this season in scoring (18.9 points per game), rebounding (7.5), assists (4.2) and steals (1.4) and was second in blocks (1.3).
He and the Blue Devils will be in action Saturday night in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, facing Houston in one semifinal.
Broome’s Tigers will meet Florida in the other semifinal.
The 6-foot-10 Broome led Auburn in scoring (18.7 points), rebounds (10.9) and blocks (2.1), and was tied in assists (2.9).
All four remaining teams were No. 1 seeds in their respective regions.
–Field Level Media
Luka Doncic scored 35 points and Austin Reaves added 30 as the Los Angeles Lakers helped their prospects for a top-four finish in the Western Conference with a 124-108 victory…
Kawhi Leonard had 20 points and sparked a key early run as the Los Angeles Clippers sailed past the Dallas Mavericks 114-91 on Friday night in Inglewood, Calif. The Clippers…
Stephen Curry bombed in a game-high 36 points, Brandin Podziemski and Jimmy Butler III combined for 45 more and the Golden State Warriors dumped the Denver Nuggets 118-104 on Friday…
Clippers blow out Mavericks, jockey for playoff berth
Stephen Curry, Warriors down Nuggets, tighten race for 4th
Surging Rockets end Thunder’s winning streak at 11 games
UConn bounces UCLA in semifinals, to face South Carolina for title
Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM
