Duke Blue Devils star Zion Williamson has capped one of the most notable college basketball seasons in recent memory by winning the Naismith Player of the Year award, becoming just the third freshmen to ever earn that distinction. Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant were the other two:
Zion Williamson has been named the Naismith Player of the Year.
He joins Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis as the only freshmen to ever win the award 😲 pic.twitter.com/jqzyqa7EFB
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) April 7, 2019
Davis was the only player out of that trio to win a national championship in addition to winning the Naismith award.
Williamson — the presumptive no. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft — was a media phenomenon all season long because of his sensational play as well as his unbelievable blend of size and explosive athleticism.
The Salisbury, NC native averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game on an astounding 68% shooting from the field. Aside from his sheer brute strength, Williamson's body control and feel for the game made him the most dominant player in the country.
The basketball world was given a massive scare when Williamson ripped through his shoe in Duke's first matchup with the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Although the resulting injury was merely a mild knee sprain, the incident was enough to stir talks of Williamson potentially sitting out the remainder of the season due to the potential risk of re-injury.
But Williamson — who has never been one to talk about his future — was unequivocal in his desire to return to action for the Blue Devils, overpowering opponents in Duke's run to winning the ACC Tournament and reaching the Elite Eight.
Williamson has not yet officially declared for the NBA Draft, but it should be a mere formality as rumors swirl that he could also earn a record-breaking shoe deal in addition to being the top overall pick.
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