Overview

While most college basketball fans kept a close eye on the progress of freshman sensation Greg Oden at Ohio State, Durant quietly went about in establishing himself as the premier player in the nation. The highest-ranked prospect ever to play for the Longhorns, the co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American game proved to be the inside-outside player who is an excellent shooter with range and underrated passer.

Durant added at least 15 pounds during UT's summer conditioning program prior to his first season with the team. He went on to become the first freshman in NCAA history to earn consensus National Player of the Year honors.

Durant led the Big 12 in scoring (25.8 per game), rebounding (11.1 rpg) and blocked shots (67). He was the only player to rank in the top 10 nationally in both scoring (fourth) and rebounding (fourth) and became the first player in Texas history to declare for the NBA Draft following his freshman season.

At Oak Hill Academy during his junior prep season, Durant earned second-team All-American honors from Parade Magazine. He averaged 19.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and three blocks per contest. He converted 65 percent from the floor, including 43 percent from 3-point range, and 77 percent from the free-throw line.

Durant transferred to Montrose Christian Schoolfor his senior season. He was a McDonald's All-American, adding first-team All-American honors from USA Today and Parade. He was the second-rated prospect nationally and also tabbed the nation's top small forward by Rivals.com.

He was named co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game in San Diego and posted a game-high 25 points (10 of 17 shooting) and four assists for the victorious West squad. Durant averaged 23.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, three assists, three steals and 2.6 blocks per game while leading Montrose Christian to a 20-2 mark and a No. 9 ranking in the final USA Today poll during his senior year. He posted a game-high 31 points in Montrose Christian's victory against his former school, top-ranked Oak Hill Academy.

Durant was one of 10 players selected to play for the U.S. team at the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit. He started and tallied 20 points and seven boards in 22 minutes to help the Americans record a 109-91 win against the World Select Team in Memphis. He started and registered 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes for the Jordan Black squad at the Jordan All-American Classic in New York City, earning MVP honors.

In his only season at Texas, Durant led the team in scoring (25.8 ppg), rebounding (11.1 rpg), blocked shots (67), steals (66), minutes (35.9 per game) and double-doubles (19). He posted at least 20 points and 10 boards in 19 of his 35 games. He reached the 30-point mark 11 times, the 20-point plateau in 30 contests and posted double digits in points in all 35 games.

Durant led the Big 12 Conference in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots and ranked fourth nationally in scoring and rebounding. He was the only player in the country to rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring and rebounding.

Durant completed a sweep of the seven major national player of the year awards. He claimed the following John R. Wooden Award, the Naismith Trophy presented by AT&T, Associated Press Player of the Year, Adolph Rupp Trophy (Commonwealth Athletic Club of Kentucky), NABC Player of the Year and the Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA) and earned Player of the Year honors from CBS/Chevrolet. He is the first freshman to win each of those honors.

A consensus first-team All-American, he is just the third freshman in NCAA history to garner such honors, joining Wayman Tisdale of Oklahoma (1983) and Chris Jackson of Louisiana State (1989). He was tabbed the Big 12 Conference Player of the year and Freshman of the Year by the league's coaches, becoming the first freshman in league history to earn player of the year honors. He became the second UT individual in the 11-year history of the league (P.J. Tucker) to claim the award.

Durant became the first player in Texas history to claim Most Outstanding Player honors at the Big 12 championships. In the three games of the tourney, he averaged 30.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 2.7 steals per game. He also converted 23 of 26 (.885) free throws. Durant set a new Big 12 tourney scoring record with 92 points in three games. The previous mark was 79 by Marcus Fizer of Iowa State (2000).

Durant reached the 30-point mark a school-record 11 times in 2006-07, including 10 against Big 12 opponents. Prior to the season, there had only been nine total 30-point games by freshmen in the 10-year history of the conference (seven in league play).

Scouting Report

Positives: Has the long limbs, natural running stride and explosiveness to excel on the fast break...Shows the change-of-direction agility to easily redirect and gets great elevation attacking the basket...Efficient shooting from long range and can also flush in transition...Has the range to connect on the 3-pointer and demonstrates a very quick release and polished mechanics with his jump shot...Demonstrating the hands to protect and the frame to shield the ball from defenders...Possesses the best perimeter game of any player eligible in this draft, showing the ability to create his own shot, especially when working from outside-in...Drives into the post with good authority, despite his slight frame...Quick to score off the dribble and has developed into an efficient free-throw shooter...Uses his long reach to block shots and disrupt defensively, helping him keep smaller, quicker players in front of him...Has uncanny timing on pull-up jumpers and excels at nailing tough shots in big spots and right in the face of his opponent...Lacks the frame to play power forward, but is quick enough to line up at shooting guard and has enough size and strength to be a small forward...Moves fluidly in transition and his speed is evident on the fast break...Catches the ball cleanly and can fire off of screens with good consistency...Does a good job of setting his feet...Times his leaps well to block shots...Uses his long arms to get to off-balance rebounds and has the soft hands to catch the tough passes thrown in the post...Comfortable playing with his back to the basket and shows solid footwork on his turnaround jumper...Much like a shooting guard, he is exceptional in attempts to pull up off the dribble...Uses his lanky frame efficiently to box out and has the timing to leap over defenders before they can push him out of the lanes...Best when shooting along the perimeter, but does need to improve his defense in that area...Not rattled in pressure situations and shows good maturity for a player of his age...While he needs to be more aggressive at times, he thrives in crunch time...Has effective ball-handling ability and knows his outside jump shot creates mismatches, forcing the defense to come out to defend him.

Negatives: Lacks the room on his frame to add more bulk and lacks the overall strength to play power forward...Needs to play with more aggression, and sometimes looks like he is going through the motions rather than playing with urgency...A bit passive when calling for passes at times...Still developing his inside game and while he can shoot the 3 with consistency, he is more comfortable along the perimeter than taking the ball in the lane...Lacks the strength needed to combat for the tough rebounds...Lacks intensity when playing defense, as he looks hesitant and opponents are able to score over him around the rim...Good passer, but needs to be more aware of his teammates before feeding them the ball (had 99 turnovers, most of which were the result of bad passes)...Footwork needs refinement when defending on the perimeter, as he stands too upright and needs to drop his weight better and get lower in his stance...Also needs to show better desire to defend and be more alert, as he will bite on fakes...Must be more patient in attempts to block shots, as his timing is sometimes off on his leaps...Not the most physical player on the court and does struggle to free from double teams and he gets ping-ponged vs. power forwards and centers pursuing rebounds...Good with the ball but needs to improve on the dribble.

Compares To: DIRK NOWITZKI, Dallas. It is a given that Durant can score from the perimeter, but with his slight frame, he will have to come into the league as either a shooting guard or small forward. He needs to improve his ball-protection skills and attack the boards with more aggression. Some scouts compare him to Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, but he doesn't have the bulk, strength or all-out intensity KG brings to the court. Leave him on the perimeter nailing jumpers and he will light up the scoreboard, but he needs to work on his defense and passing, as you can only rely on 3-point shots and scoring in transition right now. Greg Oden and Durant will vie for the top spot in the draft, but in order for Durant to have success, he will need to have a rugged power forward and a center that can bang the boards.

High School

Attended Montrose Christian School(Rockville, Md.) as a senior, playing basketball for head coach Stu Vetter...McDonald's All-American and first-team All-American choice by USA Today and Parade...Ranked as the second-beat prospect nationally and tabbed the nation's top small forward by Rivals.com...Averaged 23.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, three assists, three steals and 2.6 blocks per game while leading the team to a 20-2 mark and a No. 9 ranking in the final USA Today poll during his senior year...Posted a game-high 31 points in Montrose Christian's victory against his former team, top-ranked Oak Hill Academy...Named co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game in San Diego, posting a game-high 25 points (10 of 17 shooting) and four assists for the victorious West squad...One of 10 players selected to play for the U.S. team at the 2006 Nike Hoop Summit, as he started and tallied 20 points and seven boards in 22 minutes to help the Americans record a 109-91 win against the World Select Team in Memphis...Started and registered 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 24 minutes for the Jordan Black squad at the Jordan All-American Classic in New York City, earning MVP honors...Played his junior season at Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) Academy, earning second-team All-American honors from Parade...Averaged 19.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and three blocks per contest as a junior, as he converted 65 percent from the floor, including 43 percent from 3-point range, and 77 percent from the free-throw line.

Personal

Undeclared major...Son of Wayne and Wanda Pratt...Born Kevin Wayne Durant on 9/29/88 in Washington, D.C...Resides in Suitland, Maryland.

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