AUSTIN -- He's a double winner.

Texas standout Kevin Durant today has been named Associated
Press Big 12 basketball player of the year -- plus he's the A-P
freshman of the year.

When the 18-year-old was scorching opponents for 30 points game
after game, it wasn't long before some wondered if the U-T kid
could pull off what Carmelo Anthony did.

Anthony led Syracuse to the 2003 title as a freshman in his only
college season.

Durant leads the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding.

He helped carry 15th ranked Texas (22-and-8, 12-and-4 in Big 12)
within one game of a share of the league championship.

Durant is the first freshman to win the player of the year award
and the second straight Longhorn to do it. Texas forward P.J.
Tucker won it last season as a junior before leaving for the pros.

Many thank Durant might do the same thing.

Missouri's Stefhon Hannah is the Big 12 newcomer of the year.