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UNC Basketball: Cole Anthony named ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year

By Zack Pearson

FORT MYERS, FL - DECEMBER 21: Cole Anthony #3 of Oak Hill Academy looks on against Imhotep Charter High School during the City Of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 21, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FL - DECEMBER 21: Cole Anthony #3 of Oak Hill Academy looks on against Imhotep Charter High School during the City Of Palms Classic at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on December 21, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball freshman Cole Anthony picked up a big preseason honor from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Thursday

The Atlantic Coast Conference descended on Charlotte for the annual media days ahead of the start of the 2019-20 season. Players and coaches from teams in the conference met the media to discuss the upcoming season which should be another big one in the ACC.

Following the event on Thursday, the conference released its annual All-ACC teams, predictions and more as voted on by the media. While UNC was predicted to finish second in the conference, one player earned some pretty big preseason honors.

Point guard Cole Anthony was named the ACC Preseason Freshman of the Year by media members that cover the conference. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon as Anthony becomes the first UNC player to win the award since Harrison Barnes in 2011.

Anthony won the honor in a runaway, receiving 89 of the possible votes for the Freshman of the Year award, beating out Duke’s Vernon Carey who had eight.

In addition to being named the Preseason Freshman of the Year, Anthony was also named to the All-ACC First Team. He was the runner up to the Player of the Year, won by Jordan Nwora, receiving 31 votes compared to 55 for Virginia’s Nwora.

The former five-star recruit committed to North Carolina in April of 2019 and was a prized recruit for the Tar Heels, joining Armando Bacot, Jeremiah Francis and then Anthony Harris. UNC’s class was ranked inside the Top 10 as they look to reload after losing five of their top six scorers.

Anthony will enter the season as the starting point guard for the Tar Heels but can also slide over and play the two guard spot as well if needed. He’s one of the best scorers in the 2019 class and should have a big year in Chapel Hill.

Next. UNC Basketball Player Preview: Cole Anthony. dark

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