Forward Blake Griffin, a 6-10, 250 pound sophomore from the University of Oklahoma, is the 2009 winner of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association’s Oscar Robertson Trophy as the men’s college player of the year. He is the first winner from Oklahoma University. Griffin was presented with the award at the USBWA College Basketball Awards breakfast on Friday, April 3 at the Detroit Athletic Club.

Bill Self, who led the Kansas Jayhawks to the Big 12 conference title despite having no starters returning from last year’s national championship team, was chosen to receive the Henry Iba Coach of the Year Award.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was chosen to receive the USBWA’s Good Guy Award for his long record of helpfulness and consistency in dealing with the media. University of Memphis guard Tyreke Evans, a finalist for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, was named USBWA Freshman of the Year. San Diego State senior guard Kelvin Davis, who returned to the Aztec basketball team this season while undergoing treatment for cancer, is the 2009 recipient of the USBWA’s “Most Courageous” Award.

Griffin led the Big 12 conference in scoring (22.1 ppg) and field goal percentage (.634), both the conference and the nation in rebounding (14.2 rpg). At the end of the regular season, Griffin had set a single-season OU record with his 25 double-doubles (tied for the national lead and three shy of the Big 12 record) and a Big 12 single-season mark with 425 rebounds. The Oklahoma City native also had 13 games of at least 20 points and 15 rebounds, eclipsing the previous league record of seven. With the help of the only 40 point / 20 rebound game in Big 12 history (career highs of 40 points and 23 rebounds Feb. 14 against Texas Tech), Griffin entered postseason play averaging 27.3 points and 19.0 rebounds over his last four full games. He is considered a potential No.1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft.