In a surprise to literally no one, Duke Blue Devils star freshman Zion Williamson has been named the AP Player of the Year - and it wasn't even close.
The sure-fire #1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft secured 59 of 64 total votes, after averaging 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per game along with an extensive list of highlight reel plays on both ends of the floor.
Williamson, who could be inline for a historic sneaker deal, had already been named ACC Player and Rookie of the Year, in addition to winning the Wayman Tisdale Award as the nation's top freshman. The 18-year old phenom and teammate R.J. Barrett also earned All America First Team honors, marking just the second time that two freshman teammates were selected to the All-America First Team.
In an interview with the AP this week (H/T Washington Post), Zion spoke about the tremendous media attention, and how he handled it all.
“I was comfortable with it because you don’t really have a choice,” Williamson said. “I think if you try to force it out, then it’s going to bother you. ... My mom just told me to look at it as a lot of kids would wish to be in my position, so if it does bother me, I just think about it like that.”
R.J. Barrett finished second in the AP Player of the Year award voting with two votes, while Virginia's De'Andre Hunter, Murray State's Ja Morant and Michigan State's Cassius Winston earned a single vote apiece.