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Duke Basketball: Zion Williamson brings in another Player of the Year

By Kevin Connelly

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 29: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the second half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 29, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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The star of college basketball and the Duke Basketball team, Zion Williamson, has earned yet more national recognition for his play this season with the NABC Freshman and Player of the Year Awards.

Another day, another award that heads to Zion Williamson as the star freshman was named as the National Association of Basketball Coaches Freshman and Player of the Year.

Williamson was just named as a consensus selection to the AP First Team All-America along with teammate R.J. Barrett.

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This is yet another honor for Williamson in his short career at Duke with as he was named as the ACC Freshman and Player of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP, and the Wayman Tisdale Freshman of the Year Award.

On the season Williamson averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds,  2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 68.0% from the field and 33.8% from 3-point range.

Zion Williamson becomes the fifth Blue Devil to win the award as Christian Laettner was the first Duke player to win the award in 1992, followed by Elton Brand in 1999, Jay Williams in 2001 and 2002 and lastly with J.J. Redick in 2006.

Williamson joins former Texas superstar Kevin Durant as the only two players to win both the Players of the Year Award as freshman. Durant won the award in 2007.

With Williamson winning the award, Duke extended its lead on North Carolina and Kansas with the Most NABC Player of the Year Awards as the Blue Devils players now have been given the award six times as the Tar Heels and Jayhawks both have four.

As Duke’s season came to an unexpected end in the Elite 8 with a loss to Michigan State, the NCAA, Duke, and NBA communities await the decision of Zion Williamson as many predict he will enter the 2019 NBA Draft as he is the consensus No. 1 pick on June 20.

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