It’s been long assumed that two star seniors, Denzel Valentine out of Michigan State and Buddy Hield from the Oklahoma Sooners, would be battling it out for national player of the year honors. Both players were unanimous selections to the AP All-American team and it came down to the wire for the Player of the Year award.
At the end, Valentine edged out Hield to take home the honors.
Following courtesy of the AP.
Denzel Valentine of Michigan State is The Associated Press Player of the Year, edging out Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield by three votes. Valentine is the first Spartans player to win the award.
Valentine received 34 of 65 votes from the national media panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25. Hield was the only other player to receive votes. Hield and Valentine were the only unanimous selections to the AP All-America team.
While Valentine is bringing home the personal hardware, Hield is in the Final Four and he has a great chance to bring home the main hardware. A National Championship and possibly the John Wooden National Player of the Year award.
Denzel and the Spartans were eliminated in the first round by 15 seed Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and unfortunately we won’t see the battle between the two star guards in the 2016 NCAA Tournament National Championship game.
