Kentucky’s freshman forward, Anthony Davis, has been named Sporting News’ 2012 College Basketball Player of the Year, presented by Gillette Odor Shield.
Before even completing his first full season, Davis has established himself as the best defensive player in the country. He leads the nation in total blocks and has already risen to 10th on Kentucky’s career blocks list – Davis alone has more blocks than over 300 of the 344 schools in the NCAA’s official RPI standings. His defensive wizardry is not limited to shot blocking, however. Davis’ uncanny feel for what an offense is trying to do, and disrupting it, has given coaches nightmares all year. His contributions at both ends, averaging 16.0 points a game against SEC opponents, led Kentucky to an undefeated league season and a likely #1 overall seed in this month’s NCAA tournament.
Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings says of their opponent: “He’s special; he is different. He is a different kind of player. Again, I am very impressed with how he goes about his business - not just how he plays.”
Sporting News’ College Basketball awards are decided on by the Sporting News editorial staff in consultation with coaches and scouts around the country.
SN All-American Teams
First team All-Americans
Bill Self, Kansas University- Coach of the Year
F Anthony Davis, 6-10, Fr., Kentucky- Player of the Year
G Isaiah Canaan, 6-0, Jr., Murray State
C Jared Sullinger, 6-9, Soph., Ohio State
F Thomas Robinson, 6-10, Jr., Kansas
F Draymond Green, 6-7, Sr., Michigan State
Second team All-Americans
G Marcus Denmon, 6-3, Sr., Missouri
F Jae Crowder, 6-6, Sr., Marquette
F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, Fr., Kentucky
F Doug McDermott, 6-7, Soph., Creighton
C Tyler Zeller, 7-0, Sr., North Carolina
Third team All-Americans
G John Jenkins, 6-4, Jr., Vanderbilt
G Tyshawn Taylor, 6-3, Sr., Kansas
F Harrison Barnes, 6-8, Soph., North Carolina
F Kevin Jones, 6-8, Sr., West Virginia
F Mike Scott, 6-8, Sr., Virginia
SN’S ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
G Austin Rivers, 6-4, Duke
G Tony Wroten, 6-5, Washington
F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 6-7, Kentucky
C Anthony Davis, 6-10, Kentucky
C Cody Zeller, 6-11, Indiana
CONFERENCE AWARDS
SEC
Player of the year: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Coach of the year: John Calipari, Kentucky
Freshman of the year: Anthony Davis, Kentucky