If Kevin Durant and Greg Oden continue to live up to their hype, the 2007 NBA draft class could go down as one of the best in the history of the game of basketball.

Both players have a legitimate shot at being selected with the first pick in the draft, and if their college performances are any indication, their play at the next level will make whatever team they land with very happy.

Durant, a forward for Texas, can play four different positions on the floor, hit shots from inside and outside and control the glass with his rebounding ability.

Oden, Ohio State’s big man inside, dominates on defense and continues to improve offensively as the season goes on.

Both locks to be named All-Americans, Durant is averaging 25 points and 11 rebounds a game for a Texas team that is 21-7 and ranked No.15.

Oden scores a little less (15.3 PPG) but asserts his dominance on the defensive end, blocking 3.5 shots per game, all the while leading Ohio State to the nation’s No. 1 ranking.

Oh yeah – and they’re both just freshmen.

With the debate as to which of these phenoms should be taken with that first draft pick raging across the country, who better to ask then a team that has experienced both players first hand?

Iowa State is just one of two teams to have played both Texas and Ohio State this season. Michigan State is the other.

The Buckeyes beat the Cyclones 75-56 in a game that was much closer than the score shows on Dec. 19, while Texas survived a late rally from Iowa State to win 77-68 on Feb. 10.

Just like the rest of America, the Cyclones are split on whether Durant or Oden should have his name called first on draft day.

“I’d have to go with Oden,” forward Cory Johnson said. “You can build around him. Big bodies like that don’t come around too often. If you want to win games, you have to have a guy like that.

“Durant might be an all-star, but Oden is a guy you can build a championship team around.”

Johnson drew that tall task of stopping Oden when the Cyclones played Ohio State. The big man lived up to the hype, as far as Johnson is concerned, scoring 18 points and grabbing 9 rebounds that night.

Johnson’s game plan for guarding him?

“You can’t let him touch the ball,” he said.

ISU assistant coach T.J. Otzelberger agrees with Johnson.

“It’s tough to come up with size,” Otzelberger said. “Right now, Durant – talentwise – is capable of doing more and I see him more as a scorer then Oden at the next level, especially early on.

“But there aren’t many dominating centers in the NBA, and when there is a guy out there who’s almost a can’t-miss, you have to move on him.”

Sitting on the other side of the argument is Iowa State’s other Johnson – freshman forward Wesley – who would build his team around Durant.

“Some would say Oden because he’s a big man, but I’d take Durant,” Wesley said. “He has all the skills. He can be effective in the post or on the wing.”

Iowa State held the Texas star in check in their meeting, limiting him to 17 points and six rebounds.

However the draft shakes itself out, ISU director of basketball operations Ron Smith knows exactly what the outcome will be.

“There’s going to be two really happy NBA teams,” Smith said. “It’s a win-win situation.

“If you want Oden and you can’t get him, then you have Kevin Durant.”