Turner named top AP player

Published 12:32 am Sunday, April 4, 2010

INDIANAPOLIS — As Evan Turner clutched his trophy and posed for yet another photo, he couldn’t escape a little ribbing.

“That going to fit at home?” Ohio State teammate David Lighty said Friday as Turner walked past with The Associated Press player of the year award.

“This is going to be a window ornament,” Turner shot back as both laughed.

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It’s got to be a good feeling to receive almost every player of the year honor and have a couple of teammates make a 2 1/2-hour drive to see you get the latest one as part of the Final Four festivities.

“They have been there for me my whole career, and they are here now,” Turner said.

Turner, a 6-foot-7 junior swingman who averaged 20.3 points, 9.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists, received 54 votes from the 65-member national media panel. Kentucky freshman John Wall was second with nine votes.

Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim was selected the AP’s coach of the year, receiving 39 votes, while Kansas State’s Frank Martin was next with eight.