Many NBA fans across the nation have a secret: They’ve been rooting not for their favorite teams, but against them, in efforts to improve their chances at landing the pre-ordained next big thing in Greg Oden for next June’s draft.

And yet, there is another freshman who is not only challenging Oden’s presumed status on the top of draft boards across the country, but making a case for college Player of the Year honors.

Kevin Durant, an electric forward who stars for Texas, has established himself as the best freshman in one of the most promising collections of college rookies in recent memory, outshining all of his classmates on the court – including the aforementioned Oden.

Make no mistake, Oden is impressive and most NBA teams would not hesitate to nab him with the top selection as possibly the best big man to come along since Tim Duncan, but Durant is clearly an incredible talent in his own right.

Thanks to the NBA’s new age-limit policy, preventing high school players from being drafted directly into the professional ranks, most of last year’s best preps (including Durant and Oden) have left an indelible mark on this year’s collegiate landscape. Oden, along with guards Daequan Cook and Mike Conley Jr., are leading Ohio State toward a possible Big-10 title. North Carolina has ridden a wave of talented first-year players, including forward Brandan Wright and guards Tywon Lawson and Wayne Ellington, to the top of the ACC. In the Pac-10 alone, Spencer Hawes, Quincy Pondexter, Chase Budinger, Taj Gibson, Ryan Anderson, and Robin and Brook Lopez have infused the West Coast with youth and talent.

Durant, however, with his dazzling array of skills, has clearly moved to the head of the class. His multifaceted game almost has to be seen to be believed.

To call Durant a forward might be a misnomer. He is listed on the Texas athletics Web site as 6 feet, 9 inches and 225 pounds, but might be closer to something like 6-10 or 6-11 and a rail-thin 200. Despite his slight, lanky frame, Durant handles the ball and sees the court like a guard. He is deadly from the 3-point arc, hitting better than 35 percent of his attempts on the season. And yet he still leads the Big 12 in rebounding (10.9 per game) and is second in blocks (1.94 per game), while also scoring almost 24 points a game for best in the conference.

Durant truly defies all attempts to define his position. He is simply an incredible basketball player. He is Kevin Garnett with a 3-point shot. Already a well-known commodity to many fans coming into his freshman season (he was named co-MVP of last year’s McDonald’s All-American game), Durant announced his presence to the rest of the world a week ago in the game of the year, a 105-103, triple-overtime loss to Oklahoma State.

Before a wild and raucous crowd at Gallagher-Iba Arena and a national cable audience, Durant put his surplus of talents on display, scoring 37 points on a wide variety of jumpers, 3s, drives, hooks and putbacks. He added 12 rebounds, four blocks and two steals for good measure, only to be outdone by Cowboy senior Mario Boggan’s 37 points and 20 rebounds. Still, Durant gave notice that he truly may be a once-in-a-lifetime type of talent. His unique blend of size, skill and shooting ability has never before been seen at the college – and maybe not even the professional – level.

Next June, when fans are hoping their team gets to select Oden with the top pick, the team in the best shape just might be the one that ends up with a skinny, lanky kid from Suitland, Md. falling into its lap.

Remember the name Kevin Durant. True sports fans will want to watch him play this season so they can say, “I saw him when...” You won’t regret it.

E-mail Lee at jlee3@media.ucla.edu.