University of North Carolina Athletics
Jackson Named ACC Player Of The Year
March 6, 2017 | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL – Junior forward Justin Jackson is the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year.
Jackson has led Carolina to a 26-6 record, including a 14-4 record in league play that gave UNC its 31st regular-season ACC title.
The Tomball, Texas, native leads Carolina in scoring at 18.3 points per game and in three-pointers with 85, is second in assists (84) and fourth in rebounds (4.7). He is setting career highs in scoring average, three-point percentage (.385), three-pointers and rebounds.
Jackson is the 14th Tar Heel to win ACC Player of the Year honors (a total of 15 times). He joins Lennie Rosenbluth (1957), Pete Brennan (1958), Lee Shaffer (1960), Billy Cunningham (1965), Larry Miller (1967 and 1968), Mitch Kupchak (1976), Phil Ford (1978), Michael Jordan (1984), Antawn Jamison (1998), Joseph Forte (2001), Tyler Hansbrough (2008), Ty Lawson (2009) and Tyler Zeller (2012).
The 15 Player-of-the-Year selections ties Duke for the most in ACC history.
Jackson led Carolina in scoring in 12 of the 18 ACC games and 17 times overall, scored 20 or more points 16 times, hit four of more three-pointers 11 times and has the highest scoring average by a Tar Heel since Tyler Hansbrough in 2009.
Jackson is one of 15 players on the national ballot for the John R. Wooden Award, is one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy and is on the list for the Julius Erving Award, which the Basketball Hall of Fame awards to the nation's top small forward.
Jackson earned a spot on the All-ACC first team with Duke's Luke Kennard, Wake Forest's John Collins, Notre Dame's Bonzie Colson and Louisville's Donovan Mitchell. Jackson is UNC's 75th first-team selection, most in ACC history.
“It's an honor and a blessing by my God,” says Jackson. “My teammates are a huge part of this award and I can't thank my coaches and them enough."
Junior guard Joel Berry II earned second-team All-ACC honors. Berry is Carolina's second-leading scorer (15.1 ppg), and leads UNC in assists (112), three-point percentage (.424), free throw percentage (.832) and steals (42). The Apopka, Fla., native was the MVP of the Maui Invitational in November, earned ACC Player-of-the Week honors four times this year and National Player-of-the-Week honors twice.
Berry has scored 20 points eight times this season, including a career-high 31 at Clemson when he made seven three-pointers in an overtime win on the road that helped the eventual ACC champions avoid an 0-2 start in conference play. Berry also had 26 points in a win over Florida State and 28 on March 4 vs. Duke.
“I'm just ecstatic for Justin, Joel and our team,” says UNC head coach Roy Williams. “Justin and Joel have been outstanding for us the entire season. They're a big reason why we've been able to reach the first of our goals – to win the ACC regular-season championship.
“Justin has been really good from day one. To have the kind of success shooting the ball and making big plays in key situations like he did against Duke is a credit to him and the amount of work he put in to improve his game. We went through a very difficult ACC schedule and Justin gave our players a lot of confidence knowing that he would consistently be putting up 18-20 points, about five rebounds and some key assists each game. He listened to our coaching staff last spring about how to improve as a player and was determined to get better and stronger, which through his hard work and sweat, he is now reaping the benefits.
“To come to Carolina as a home-schooled youngster and earn ACC Player of the Year honors in the best conference in the country in one of the ACC's most competitive seasons ever is a tremendous achievement.
“Joel has been a big-time scorer for us. Obviously last night he shot the ball off the charts and was just huge down the stretch, but he was sensational in Maui, was the ACC Player of the Week twice in conference play and has been willing to step up and make plays in critical moments all year.
“I'm pleased for both of them and for our team because their accolades are a reflection of our entire team's success and the kind of leadership both of them have demonstrated from day one. Hopefully Justin, Joel and our entire team will continue to improve as we work toward reaching more of our goals and dreams over the next month.”
