By JACOB POLACHECK
Duke freshman forward Zion Williamson was named both the 2019 ACC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year on Monday, becoming just the third player in ACC history to sweep the league’s Player and Rookie of the Year honors.
Williamson joins former Duke standouts Marvin Bagley III (2018) and Jahlil Okafor (2015) as the only players in the ACC’s 66-year history to sweep the conference’s top individual awards in the same season.
Williamson received 49 of 70 ACC Player of the Year votes cast by a selection panel consisting of the league’s 15 head coaches and 55 members of the media. Fellow Duke freshman RJ Barrett received 16 votes, while Virginia sophomore De’Andre Hunter received four votes, and Boston College junior Ky Bowman received one vote.
Despite being sidelined since February 20 with a right knee sprain and missing the final six games of the regular season, Williamson finished third among ACC players in total points scored. He finished second in the ACC with 21.6 points per game and stands third in rebounding at 8.8 per game.
Williamson also led the conference with a .683 field goal percentage, which was also good for the second best field goal percentage in the NCAA.
Virginia head coach Tony Bennett was named the ACC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year after leading the Cavaliers to a 28-2 record (16-2 conference) and a No. 1 seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament.
The ACC Coach of the Year honor is the Bennett’s fourth since he took the helm at Virginia prior to 2009-10 season. He was also recognized in 2014 and 2015.
The full list of recipients are provided below:
All-ACC First Team
Zion Williamson, Duke
RJ Barrett, Duke
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
Cameron Johnson, North Carolina
Kyle Guy, Virginia
Second Team
Luke Maye, North Carolina
Ky Bowman, Boston College
Ty Jerome, Virginia
Coby White, North Carolina
Kerry Blackshear Jr., Virginia Tech
Third Team
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
Marcquise Reed, Clemson
Tyus Battle, Syracuse
Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech
John Mooney, Notre Dame
Honorable Mention
Mifondu Kabengele, Florida State
Cam Reddish, Duke
Tre Jones, Duke
Terrance Mann, Florida State
Elijah Thomas, Clemson
ACC Player of the Year
Zion Williamson, Duke
ACC Freshman of the Year
Zion Williamson, Duke
ACC Coach of the Year
Tony Bennett, Virginia
ACC Defensive Player of the Year
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
ACC Most Improved Player
Jordan Nwora, Louisville
ACC Sixth Man of the Year
Mifondu Kabengele, Florida State
ACC All-Defensive Team
De’Andre Hunter, Virginia
Tre Jones, Fr., Duke
Zion Williamson, Fr., Duke
Elijah Thomas, Sr., Clemson
James Banks III, Jr., Georgia Tech
ACC All-Freshman Team
Zion Williamson, Duke
Coby White, North Carolina
RJ Barrett, Duke
Xavier Johnson, Pitt
Tre Jones, Duke
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