GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Duke sophomore guard Tre Jones and Clemson junior forward Aamir Simms have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Co-Players of the Week, and Virginia Tech guard/forward Landers Nolley II claimed ACC Freshman of the Week honors.
Jones also earned Co-Player of the Week honors on Dec. 9. Nolley picked up Freshman of the Week honors for the fifth time this season.
ACC men’s basketball weekly honors are determined by a vote of a 15-member media panel and announced on Mondays throughout the regular season.
Jones averaged a team-leading 19.5 points in wins last week at Georgia Tech and at home over Wake Forest. He scored or assisted on 44 percent of Duke’s made field goals, shooting a team-best .682 (15-of-22) from the field with 12 assists against just four turnovers in 33.0 minutes. He averaged 6.0 assists, 4.0 steals, 5.5 rebounds and was 4-of-5 from 3-point range. He took control late in the win at Georgia Tech, scoring seven of his 16 points (2-2 FG, 3-4 FT) with two rebounds and one steal over the game’s final five minutes. He finished with 16 points (5-7 FG), seven assists and eight rebounds at Georgia Tech, and followed with a game-high 23 points (10-15 FG, 3-4 3FG) with five assists and no turnovers in the Wake Forest win.
Simms had a huge game Saturday as Clemson rallied for its first-ever victory in Chapel Hill, where the Tigers were winless against North Carolina in 59 previous games. He led Clemson in points (20), rebounds (8), assists (6), blocks (4) and steals (3) and also scored Clemson’s final 10 points of regulation to force overtime. His 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left in regulation sent the game into overtime in the 79-76 victory. He then scored or assisted on six of Clemson’s nine points in overtime. It marked Simms’ fifth career 20-point performance and his 12th double-digit scoring game of the season. His four blocks against the Tar Heels tied a career high.
Nolley averaged 21.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 2.5 apg as Virginia Tech claimed wins over Syracuse and NC State. He dropped 29 points on NC State Saturday, hitting four 3-pointers and going 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. With Tech trailing 10-0 after the first media timeout, Nolley willed the Hokies back into the game, scoring eight points in a 13-0 run that enabled the Hokies to take the lead for good. Nolley also led the Hokies to their first-ever win over Syracuse in the Carrier Dome with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists. He made some clutch free throws down the stretch, going 3-for-4 in the last 19 seconds to keep pushing it back to a two-possession game.
2019-20 ACC Player of the Week Honors
Nov. 11 - Cole Anthony, Fr., G, North Carolina
Nov. 18 - John Mooney, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Nov. 25 - Michael Devoe, So., G, Georgia Tech; Vernon Carey Jr., Fr., C, Duke
Dec. 2 - Olivier Sarr, Jr., C, Wake Forest
Dec. 9 - Jordan Nwora, Jr., F, Louisville; Tre Jones, So., G, Duke
Dec. 16 - Chaundee Brown, Jr., G, Wake Forest
Dec. 23 - Markell Johnson, Sr., G, NC State; Kameron McGusty, Jr., G, Miami
Dec. 30 - Moses Wright, Jr., F, Georgia Tech
Jan. 6 - John Mooney, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Jan. 13 - Tre Jones, So., G, Duke; Aamir Simms, Jr., F, Clemson
2019-20 ACC Freshman of the Week Honors
Nov. 11 - Cole Anthony, G, North Carolina
Nov. 18 - Landers Nolley II, G/F, Virginia Tech
Nov. 25 - Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
Dec. 2 - Landers Nolley II, G/F, Virginia Tech
Dec. 9 - Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
Dec. 16 - Landers Nolley II, G/F, Virginia Tech
Dec. 23 - Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
Dec. 30 - Landers Nolley II, G/F, Virginia Tech
Jan. 6 - Matthew Hurt, F, Duke
Jan. 13 - Landers Nolley II, G/F, Virginia Tech