Redick tops Morrison for honor

J.J. Redick of Duke edged Adam Morrison of Gonzaga for the Associated Press Player of the Year award for men’s college basketball, announced Friday.

Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels, was chosen coach of the year.

Redick, a repeat All-American, finished as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s all-time leading scorer and the NCAA career leader in 3-point field goals.

Redick, whose 3-point shooting led Duke to a 32-4 record and the No. 1 ranking for most of the season, was second to Morrison in scoring this season. He is the record sixth Duke player to win the award, with five winners coming since 1992.

Redick received 43 votes from the 72-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Morrison got the other 29 votes in balloting conducted before the NCAA tournament.

“There are so many great players in this country, specifically Adam Morrison and my teammate Shelden Williams, that it’s a great honor to win this award,” Redick said.

Williams followed a national championship season by leading an inexperienced UNC team to a Top 10 finish.