Michigan State's Denzel Valentine Named AP Player of the Year

The NCAA Tournament ended much too soon for the Michigan State Spartans, but that doesn't take away from the awesome year Denzel Valentine had.

Valentine has been named The Associated Press Player of the Year, beating second-place Buddy Hield of the Oklahoma Sooners by three votes.

Denzel Valentine is the 1st Michigan State player to win AP Player of the Year.https://t.co/v01YxaV3xt pic.twitter.com/EfX0SEKCOk

— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) March 31, 2016

34 of 65 votes from the media (the same ones who pick the AP Top 25 each week) went to Valentine, with the rest going to Hield. Valentine is a 6-5 senior who averaged 19.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.6 assists per contest.

This is his sixth national player of the year award, joining those from the National Association of Basketball Coaches, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, NBC Sports and Basketball Times.