Duke Basketball: Zion Williamson wins ACC Player and Rookie of the Year
The Duke Basketball star freshman sensation Zion Williamson was named as the ACC Player and Rookie of the Year.
The question that was truly never a question has finally been answered.
Zion Williamson has won the ACC Player and Rookie of the Year Award.
More from Ball Durham
- Duke basketball: The architect behind digital dominance
- Duke basketball prioritizing frontcourt prospects in 2025
- Duke basketball: Unmasking the hate for the Blue Devils
- Duke basketball: Countdown to Craziness lands another huge visitor
- Duke basketball fills final open scholarship
Despite being sidelined since February 20, Zion’s body of work was too impressive to the voters of the ACC media to not give him both awards.
Williamson beat out his teammate, R.J. Barrett, as well as Virginia’s De’Andre Hunter and Boston College’s Ky Bowman for the Player of the Year Award.
Zion received 49 of the 70 votes, while Barrett received 16 votes, Hunter had four, and Bowman with one.
Averaging 21.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks on the season, Zion Williamson had one of the best seasons in ACC history. He also shot 68.3% from the field and 29.2% from 3-point range.
The only competition Zion Williamson had for ACC Rookie of the Year was once again from R.J. Barrett and while the voting was much close, Williamson still had the advantage.
R.J. Barrett picked up 21 of the 70 votes, compared to Williamson’s 47, while North Carolina’s Coby White trailed the Duke duo with just two votes.
Zion was also the only player to be an unanimous selection to the First Team All-ACC Team as well as the ACC All-Freshman Team.
In addition to those honors, Williamson was also named to the ACC All-Defensive Team.
His season high in points, 35, came in a loss to Syracuse in Cameron Indoor Stadium, while his season high in rebounds, 17, was in a victory over Boston College, and his high in assists was seven in a win over Pittsburgh. Zion was also able to record six blocks in the second game of the season against Army and he came away with five steals in a win over St. John’s.
Zion Williamson joins Jahlil Okafor and Marvin Bagley III as the only players in ACC History win both the ACC Player and Rookie of the Year Awards
Williamson is expected back on the floor this Thursday during the ACC Tournament when the Blue Devils will play Syracuse, Boston College, or Pittsburgh in the quarterfinals at approximately 9:30pm ET on ESPN.