Austin, Texas ? The comparison was inevitable.

When Texas freshman Kevin Durant was scorching Big 12 opponents for 30 points game after game, it wasn’t long before some wondered if the kid could pull off what Carmelo Anthony did and carry his team all the way to a national championship.

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

“He just carried his team on his back,” Durant said this week. “When he needed to hit a big shot, he hit it. That’s what I want to do with my team.”

Durant has done that all season, leading the league in scoring and rebounding and carrying No. 15 Texas (22-8, 12-4) within a game of a share of the Big 12 championship.

On Wednesday, the 18-year-old who many assume will leave for the NBA after this season, was named The Associated Press Big 12 player of the year. And as expected, he also was named freshman of the year.

He 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.

Although there was some late-season chatter that Texas A&M senior guard Acie Law might deserve it for his strong season, the voting really wasn’t close.

In balloting of media members who cover the league, Durant received 19 votes and Law had one. Two voters split their ballot, giving each a half vote.

For freshman of the year, Durant received 18 votes. His teammate D.J. Augustin and Kansas guard Sherron Collins each had two.

Missouri’s Stefhon Hannah was named newcomer of the year.

Durant had the kind of freshman season few expect to see again.

His averages of 25.1 points and 11.4 rebounds led the league, and he scored 30 or more points nine times in 16 league games. He had one of the most dominant performances in league history with 37 points and 23 rebounds in a win at Texas Tech.

Hannah, a transfer guard, led Missouri with 15.6 points per game and was fourth in the league with 4.66 assists per game.