MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Duke freshman Zion Williamson was named the 2019 winner of the Citizen Naismith Trophy that was handed out Sunday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to the men’s college basketball most outstanding player.
Williamson becomes just the third to win the award in as a freshman, joining Kentucky’s Anthony Davis (2012) and Texas’ Kevin Durant (2007). The Spartanburg, S.C., native edged out three other finalists for this year’s trophy -- juniors Rui Hachimura (Gonzaga) and Grant Williams (Tennessee) and sophomore Ja Morant (Murray State).
The announcement and presentation of the Citizen Naismith Trophy -- named after the inventor of basketball, Dr.