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Kevin Durant

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Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant at the free throw line
CollegeTexas
ConferenceBig 12
SportBasketball
PositionSmall forward/Power forward
ClassFreshman
NicknameKD, K-Dog, K-Smoove,[1] The Second Coming[2]
Career2006–2007
Height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Weight225 lb (102 kg)
NationalityUSA
Born (1988-09-29) September 29, 1988 (age 36)
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C.
High schoolMontrose Christian School,
Rockville, MD; Oak Hill Academy,
Mouth of Wilson, VA
Career highlights
Awards
2006 Co-MVP McDonald's All-American Game
2007 ESPN All-American[3]
2007 ESPN Player of the Year[3]
2007 NABC Division I Player of the Year[4]
2007 AP All-America 1st Team (unanimous)[5]
2007 Oscar Robertson Trophy[6]
2007 Adolph Rupp Trophy[7]
2007 Naismith Player of the Year[8]
2007 John R. Wooden Award[9]
2007 AP National Player of the Year
Tournaments
2007 NCAA Tournament

Kevin David Durant (born September 29, 1988 in Washington, D.C.[10][11]) is a 6'9" [12] American college basketball player who played for the University of Texas at Austin in the Big 12 Conference of the NCAA during the 2006-2007 season. He was selected as the 2006-2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Year and received numerous other awards. After his freshman season, Durant opted to enter the NBA Draft.[13]

High school

A basketball player from his earliest days, Durant played for a very successful AAU youth basketball team. Durant's team, the PG Jaguars, won multiple national championships and included fellow blue chip recruits Michael Beasley (Kansas State) and Chris Braswell (Georgetown). Durant later moved on to play AAU ball with fellow McDonald's All American Tywon Lawson (North Carolina) for the DC Blue Devils. During this time Durant also starred for the Oak Hill Academy basketball team, which won the 2005 USA Today National Championship. Durant transferred back home for the 2005-2006 school year to play for Stu Vetter at Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Maryland. At Montrose, Durant led the team in scoring and was named 2006 All-Met Player of the Year in Boys' Basketball by The Washington Post. Durant also was named a McDonald's All American and was co-MVP of the 2006 McDonald's All American game with Chase Budinger. Coming out of high school, Durant was widely regarded as the second-best high school basketball player from the class of 2006 (behind Greg Oden).[14][15]

College

Durant, a 6'9" small forward with a 7'4¾" wingspan[16], was widely hailed by the media as the Big 12's top freshman and a top candidate for Freshman of the Year.[17] He averaged 25.8 points per game and 11.1 rebounds a game his freshman year. In Big 12 play he averaged 28.9 points per game and 12.5 rebounds. His college career high for scoring is 37, which he has achieved on four occasions. Durant had twenty 30-point games his freshman year, including a losing effort against Kansas for the regular season Big 12 title.

In March 2007, Durant was named the NABC Division I Player of the Year,[4] and received the Oscar Robertson Trophy[6] and the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy,[7] becoming the first freshman to win each of these awards. On March 30, 2007, he was selected as the Associated Press college player of the year, becoming the first freshman and the first Texas athlete to receive this award since its inception in 1961.[4][18] On April 1, 2007 he became the first freshman to receive the Naismith Award[19] and on April 7, 2007, won the John R. Wooden Award[9]

In late February 2007, Durant received an invitation to the Team USA Basketball training camp. He is the second freshman to be invited to the camp (Greg Oden being the other).[20]

NBA career

NBA Draft

Durant declared himself eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft on April 11, 2007, and most experts currently view him and fellow freshman Greg Oden as the two players likely to be selected first in the draft, either 1st overall by the Portland Trail Blazers or 2nd by the Seattle Supersonics.[13]

On May 25th, 2007, Durant signed his first professional contract. His contract was with Upper Deck. The company said that Durant will be the focus of their 2007-2008 NBA trading card line. Other athletes with Upper Deck deals include LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.[21] Durant was also announced to be the coverboy of the new NCAA March Madness 2008 video game by EA Sports. Durant is spending time in Canada while programmers recreate his game.[22] Most recently, Durant has been named to the US National Basketball Olympic Team.

Awards

High school

College

  • Big 12 Rookie of the Week (six times)[24]
  • Big 12 Player of the Week (four times)[24]
  • 2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Awards:[25]
    • Player of the Year
    • Big 12 Freshman of the Year
    • All-Big 12 First Team (unanimous)
    • Big 12 All-Defensive Team
    • Big 12 All-Rookie Team (unanimous)
  • 2007 AP National Player of the Year[26]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kevin Durant.

References

  1. ^ Wahl, Grant (February 13, 2007). "Phenomenal Freshman". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2007-03-07. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVc9UALJRTE&mode=related&search=
  3. ^ a b c d Dre (2007-03-07). "ESPN All-American Team And POY". Serious Hoops. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  4. ^ a b c d "Longhorns' Freshman Durant Named NABC Division I Player of the Year" (pdf) (Press release). National Association of Basketball Coaches. March 21, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  5. ^ a b Brown, Chip (2007-03-27). ""Durant, Law on All-America team"". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-03-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b c "USBWA names Durant, Bennett as player, coach of the year" (Press release). United States Basketball Writers Association. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2007-03-27. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c "Durant Named Player Of The Year" (Press release). Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2007-03-28. {{cite press release}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ ""Durant wins Naismith Award"". Austin American Statesman. 2007-04-01. Retrieved 2007-04-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b c Rosner, Mark (2007-04-07). "Durant receives Wooden Award". Bevo Beat. Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2007-04-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Kevin Durant". NBADraft.net. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  11. ^ "TexasSports.com". Retrieved 2007-03-09.
  12. ^ http://www.draftexpress.com/measurements.php (Note: NBA height measurements are taken in shoes; hence, Durant is slightly taller than 6'10)
  13. ^ a b "Durant to declare for NBA Draft". Texas Longhorns Athletics. Retrieved 2007-04-15.
  14. ^ "Basketball Recruiting: Top Recruits". ScoutHoops.com. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  15. ^ "Prospect Ranking: Final Rivals150 Class of 2006". Rivals.com. 2006-05-02. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  16. ^ Report: Durant's workout raises eyebrows at camp, updated June 6, 2007
  17. ^ Goodman, Jeff (2006-09-01). "Longhorns' Durant is simply special" (PDF). FoxSports.net. Archived from the original (pdf) on 2006-09-01. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
  18. ^ Brown, Chip (2007-03-28). "UT's Durant racking up awards". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-03-28. Durant is the first freshman to win the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Rupp Trophy. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ a b Brown, Chip (2007-03-22). "Durant named NABC player of the year". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2007-03-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ Tomasson, Chris (2007-02-17). "Dantley given Hall of Fame support". Rocky Mountain News. Retrieved 2007-03-07. Colangelo said he plans to invite University of Texas player Kevin Durant to Team USA training camp this summer. On April 10, 2007, Durant decided to leave Texas and declare for the NBA draft. He's leaving after playing 1 year at the University of Texas.
  21. ^ http://cbs11tv.com/sports/local_story_145095148.html
  22. ^ http://www.theolympian.com/sports/story/116176.html
  23. ^ "John R. Wooden Award announces the 2006-07 All-American Team". John R. Wooden Award. 2007-03-27. Retrieved 2007-03-28. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ a b "Final Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards For 2006-07 Announced (March 5)". Big 12 Conference. March 5, 2007. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  25. ^ "Phillips 66 Big 12 Men's Basketball Awards Announced" (pdf) (Press release). Big 12 Conference. 2007-03-04. Retrieved 2007-03-27.
  26. ^ "Durant, Bennett earn AP honors". Sports Illustrated. 2007-03-30. Retrieved 2007-04-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
Preceded by Naismith College Player of the Year
2007 		Succeeded by
N/A
Preceded by
J. J. Redick
 John R. Wooden Award (men)
2007 		Succeeded by
N/A
Preceded by Big 12 Conference
Men’s Basketball
Player of the Year
2007 		Succeeded by
N/A


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