UNC Basketball: Justin Jackson wins ACC player of the year
Following a big win against Duke, Justin Jackson named ACC Player of the Year
Justin Jackson seems to have made the right decision in returning for his junior season at North Carolina. Jackson was named ACC Player of the Year this afternoon, becoming the 14th Tar Heel to do so (15th overall, Larry Brown won the award twice).
With Jackson winning, UNC tied Duke with the most such awards in ACC history.
It was announced that Jackson had garnered 24 votes for the award, well ahead of John Collins of Wake Forest, who had 15. Three other players also received votes.
Many believed that the final game against Duke would be the deciding factor in the voting, but Duke’s Luke Kennard got only five votes.
More from UNC Basketball
- UNC Basketball: FIRST LOOK at Leaky Black in a Hornets uniform
- UNC Basketball extends offer to five-star Jasper Johnson
- UNC Basketball: Recruits taking unofficial visits to Chapel Hill
- UNC Women’s Basketball named captains for 2023-2024 season
- UNC Basketball: Pete Nance Signs With Cleveland Cavaliers
Jackson performed like a mad man all season. He averaged 18 points and five rebounds for the season, all while shooting 45% from the field. Jackson upped his scoring average six points-per-game from last year, and proved to be the guy that could carry the Heels this season.
The forward reportedly spent the entire summer working on his jump shot, and the results paid off big time. He finished the regular season shooting 39% from three, but the most impressive part is that he has a legitimate shot at breaking the UNC single season three-point record, which stands at 95.
That would be a massive improvement from his first two seasons as a Heel.
Because he won the prestigious award, Jackson will have his jersey honored in the rafters at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill. There is a short list of accomplishments, and ACC Player of the Year is one of them.
The media also selected Jackson to the All-ACC first team. He joins Luke Kennard, Bonzie Colson, John Collins, and Donovan Mitchell.
Other Tar Heels honored
Other Tar Heels received praise on Sunday. Tar Heel point guard Joel Berry II was named to the All-ACC second team. Berry was sensational in the final game against Duke, presumably leaving the voters with great final memories.
Kennedy Meeks was among the honorable mentions, the leading candidate in that category.
Related Story: The good, the bad, the ugly to close out ACC play
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams also came in second-place in voting for the league’s top coach. He finished a distant second to Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner.