You can question it all you want, but trust me — he's a freshman. Even though his play would tell you otherwise, Kevin Durant, the 6-foot-9-inch forward from Texas, is a freshman. Still, he's the best player in college basketball and really, it isn't even that close.

While most of the country has its eyes focused on a fellow freshman in Columbus, Ohio — the 7-foot-1-inch center Greg Oden — it is the play of Durant 1,500 miles south in Austin, Texas, that I'm paying attention to.

The only reason why both of these athletes are in the NCAA instead of playing professionally is because of the new age limit rule instituted by the NBA that keeps anybody under 19 out of the league.

Not only has the new rule been great for college basketball and for fans (we get to watch these great players), but it's also beneficial for the players themselves. Durant graduated high school weighing about 175 pounds. For a 6-foot-9-inch player, that isn't very much. He was rail-thin, but since then he's upped his weight to a solid 205.

If he were in the NBA right now, Durant would have been too lean to get any playing time. Being in college has given him the opportunity to mature physically while honing his skills against top competition.

He has averages about 24 points and 11 rebounds through 18 games as a freshman. In four games against Big 12 opponents, Durant is averaging 34 points and 13 rebounds. Even as a freshman he leads a strong Big 12 Conference in scoring and rebounding.

Tall, long, lean and athletic, the kid has no flaws in his game. He rebounds, he defends and he can score in a multitude of ways. Not only can he step back and hit a 3-pointer from anywhere on the court (he easily has NBA range), he can take guards off the dribble and has the touch to score anywhere in the paint. His best attribute, however, is probably his cool confidence when the game is on the line. He has already made a number of clutch shots to tie or take the lead late in a game.

Surely "one and done," Durant is already causing teams in the NBA to target the lottery and hope for the No. 1 pick. In any other year, Durant would be the top pick. This year, he is mostly the consensus second pick behind Oden, the center from Ohio State. Oden is a great player, but he looks like he's 40 years old and who knows when he's going to start playing like it. Durant is simply better than Oden and anybody passing on him will regret it.

Probably the best player to come along since LeBron James, Durant will be a game-changer at the next level as soon as he gets there. But for now, we get to watch him play the pure, non-money-driven game of college basketball.

Turn your eyes away from Columbus, because the main attraction is down in Austin. Take a seat, turn on the television and sit back and enjoy watching this kid play. College basketball fans, we are lucky to have this opportunity.

Reach columnist Anthony Dion at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.