Denzel Valentine beat out Buddy Hield in a close vote to be named The Associated Press' Player of the Year.

"We spent time together this summer at a basketball camp, and we built a relationship,'' Valentine said of his fellow senior.

"During the season we would give each other words of encouragement,'' Valentine said. "He was first person to text me when I got hurt, and I thought that was pretty big time of him. He deserves everything he's getting.''

Valentine, who missed four games after having minor knee surgery, received 34 of 65 votes from the national media panel that selects the weekly AP Top 25. Hield was the only other player to receive votes. 

Buddy Hield headlines the 15-16 USBWA All-American First Team.

Joining Hield on the First Team are Malcolm Brogdon, Brice Johnson, Ben Simmons and Denzel Valentine.

On the Second Team are Kris Dunn, Georges Niang, Jakob Poeltl, Tyler Ulis and Jarrod Uthoff.

Kris Dunn has been named the Big East Player of the Year as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Henry Ellenson was named Big East Rookie of the Year.

Joining Dunn and Ellenson on the All-Big East First Team are Ben Bentil, Trevon Bluiett, Josh Hart and Isaiah Whitehead.

Marvelle Harris of Fresno State has been named Mountain West Player of the Year by the Coaches, while Josh Adams of Wyoming won the Media version of the award.

Skylar Spencer of San Diego State won Defensive Player of the Year, while his teammate Jeremy Hemsley won Freshman of the Year from the Coaches and Cameron Oliver won the media version.

Jakob Poeltl has been named Pac-12 Player of the Year while Jaylen Brown received Freshman of the Year honors. Gary Payton II was named Defensive player of the Year.

Joining Poeltl, Brown and Payton on the All-Pac-12 First Team are Rosco Allen, Ryan Anderson, Andrew Andrews, Dillon Brooks, Elgin Cook, Julian Jacobs and Josh Scott.

Tyler Ulis of Kentucky has been named the 2016 SEC Player of the Year, while Ben Simmons was named Freshman of the Year.

Ulis was also named Defensive Player of the Year.

Joining Ulis and Simmons on First Team All-SEC are Michael Carrera, Damian Jones, Jalen Jones, Stefan Moody, Jamal Murray and Retin Obasohan.

Malcolm Brogdon of Virginia has been named named the ACC Player of the Year for the 15-16 season.

Brandon Ingram received Freshman of the Year honors.

Joining Brogdon on the All-ACC First Team are Brice Johnson, Jaron Blossomgame, Anthony Barber and Grayson Allen.

On the All-ACC Second Team are Michael Gbinije, Ingram, Demetrius Jackson, Damion Lee and Sheldon McClellan.

Denzel Valentine has been named Big Ten Player of the Year.

Joining Valentine on the All-Big Ten First Team (Media) are Yogi Ferrell, A.J. Hammons, Nigel Hayes and Jarrod Uthoff.

On the All-Big Ten Second Team are Matt Costello, Bryn Forbes, Malcolm Hill, Peter Jok and Melo Trimble.

Hammons was also named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, while Ethan Happ won Freshman of the Year honors.

Buddy Hield of Oklahoma has been named the Big 12 Player of the Year.

Joining Hield on the All-Big 12 First Team are Perry Ellis, George Niang, Taurean Prince and Isaiah Taylor.

On the All-Big 12 Second Team are Frank Mason, Monte Morris, Jaysean Paige, Wayne Selden and Devin Williams.

Prince Ibeh was named Defensive Player of the Year and Jawun Evans won Freshman of the Year.