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Zion Williamson joins Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis as only freshmen to win Wooden Award

jack baer
Staff writer
FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2019, file photo, Duke's Zion Williamson (1) dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Clemson, in Durham, N.C. Williamson was named both The Associated Press ACC player and newcomer of the year, Tuesday, March 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
Zion Williamson was arguably the story of college basketball this season. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)

An electric freshman season of highlight after highlight has earned Zion Williamson one of college basketball’s top honors.

The Duke superstar was named the winner of the 2019 Wooden Award, joining Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis as the only freshmen to ever win the Player of the Year honor.

Zion Williamson wins Wooden Award

In his first season at Duke, Williamson posted 22.6 points per game on 68.0 percent field goal shooting, the second-best mark in the country. He also chipped in 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, as well as many, many viral dunks.

A march through award shows will likely be the final chapter of Williamson’s college career before he declares for the NBA draft, where he is universally expected to be picked first overall. Williamson has also won the AP and Naismith Player of the Year awards, as well as All-American honors.

Williamson was actually offered the opportunity to declare for the draft as he won the Karl Malone Award for the country’s top power forward. His answer: “Who knows?”

The other winners of the positional awards were Williamson’s Duke teammate R.J. Barrett (shooting guard), Wisconsin’s Ethan Happ (center), Gonzaga’s Rui Hachimura (small forward) and Murray State’s Ja Morant (point guard).

Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger took home the Coach of the Year award.

Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu wins women’s Wooden Award

On the women’s side of the prestigious award, Oregon junior Sabrina Ionescu took home the prize after setting an NCAA record with 18 career triple-doubles.

Ionescu posted 19.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and a Pac-12-leading 8.1 assists per game while leading Oregon to a 33-5 record and the Final Four.

Unlike Williamson, Ionescu will get the chance to repeat for the Wooden Award next year after spurning the 2019 WNBA draft, where she would have been the likely No. 1 overall pick.

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