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.
