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NATIONAL
FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR |
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April 3, 2008 |
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 BOSTON
(MA) -- Add
another honor to the growing list of accolades for
Kansas State’s freshman Michael Beasley.
The 6-foot-10 freshman sensation picks up his sixth
National Freshman of the Year honor, after being
tabbed by CollegeInsider.com.
Beasley averaged 26.2 points per game and helped lead
Kansas State to the second round of the NCAA
tournament, while leading the team in nearly every
statistical category, including starts, minutes,
scoring, field goals, free throws, rebounding, steals
and blocks.
The Big 12 Player and Rookie of the Year led the
nation in 40-point games (3), 30-point, 10-rebound
games (13), 20-point, 10-rebound games (22),
rebounding average (12.4 rpg.) and double-doubles
(28).
After just one season, Beasley holds 30 Kansas State
career, single-season and freshman records.
“It is great that Michael is receiving the recognition
that he deserves for his outstanding season,” says
Frank Martin. “He put together arguably one of the
great seasons ever by a college freshman, while
setting all sorts of records at the school, conference
and national level. Despite all of his honors, I think
he is most proud of leading our program back to the
NCAA Tournament for the first time in 12 years.”
Beasley posted one of the greatest seasons by a
freshman in NCAA history. He tallied the second-most
rebounds (408) by a freshman, trailing just the record
of 462 set by Nevada’s Pete Padgett in 1972-73.
He became just the third freshman in NCAA history to
lead the nation in rebounding, joining Loyola (Ill.)‘s
Kenny Miller (1987-88; 13.6 rpg.) and Louisiana Tech’s
Paul Millsap (2003-04; 12.5 rpg.).
Beasley collected the third-most points (866) by a
freshman behind LSU’s Chris Jackson (965; 1988-89) and
Texas’ Kevin Durant (903; 2006-07).
He broke the NCAA freshman mark for double-doubles
with 28 and is just the 11th player in NCAA Division I
history to post 28+ double-doubles and the first since
Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan (29) in 1996-97.
His 28 double-doubles tie for the eighth-most in a
single-season, tying Cincinnati’s Oscar Robertson
(1959), UCLA’s Lew Alcindor (1967) and Indiana State’s
Larry Bird (1979).
Beasley has been named a first team All-America by The
Associated Press, John R. Wooden Award, NABC, CBS
Sports.com, Rivals.com, Sports Illustrated, The
Sporting News, ESPN.com, Dick Vitale, U.S. Basketball
Writers Association and CollegeInsider.com. |
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