“I’ve got the best player in the country”- Rick Barnes recalls when he knew Kevin Durant was the best player in college after his first practice

Rick Barnes coached over 1,200 college basketball games spanning nearly four decades, so he has seen almost everything to behold. That also makes him a reliable talent evaluator. Case in point: Before Kevin Durant played a single college game for the University of Texas, Barnes had already anointed his prized recruit as "the best player in the country."

KD showed he was the best before his first game in college

In an interview with CBS Sports' Seth Davis, the 70-year-old fondly recalls coaching KD's lone season in Austin.

"I remember early in the fall practice, I got a call from Fran Fraschilla," Barnes relates . "And he said to me, 'what do you think about your team?' I said, 'Fran, it's too early to tell, I'm not sure, but I do know one thing, I've got the best player in the country.' He said, 'You mean the best freshman?' I said, 'No, I've got the best player in the country.'

"The mistake I made probably was the fact, I think, Kevin averaged 36 and a half minutes a game. Our coaches would say he needs a rest. I would look at him and say, 'KD, you need a rest?' He'd say, 'I'm fine, coach. I'm fine.' It's okay, play," Barnes concluded.

As it turned out, the current Tennessee head coach wasn't even reaching. KD took the college world by storm, averaging 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists for the Longhorns. Texas earned the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament despite losing LaMarcus Aldridge, PJ Tucker, and Daniel Gibson to the pros.

He became the first freshman to win the National Player of the Year award, including the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award.

From College Star to International Basketball Icon

Despite Durant's early brilliance, he wasn't always held in the highest regard in basketball circles. He was seen as the second-best prospect in the 2006 recruiting class behind Greg Oden and was selected behind the Ohio State big man in the 2007 NBA Draft.

That said, the soon-to-be 36-year-old is still one of basketball's elites. The "Slim Reaper" made his mark, not only in the NBA but also in the international scene. KD recently surpassed Lisa Leslie for the U.S. Olympic scoring record and is on his way to a fourth gold medal in the quadrennial event.

Besides putting the ball through the hoop, KD has recently become the United States Olympic leader in rebounding . From his college days until now, KD has proved he can do anything on the basketball court.

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