GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Georgia Tech senior forward Moses Wright was named the ACC Player of the Week, while North Carolina center Walker Kessler and Louisville forward Jae'Lyn Withers shared ACC Freshman of the Week laurels in the ACC men’s basketball weekly awards for this week.
Wright claimed Player of the Week honors for the second time this season (Dec. 7). Kessler is the fifth UNC freshman to earn the Freshman of the Week award this season. UNC is the first program to ever have five players pick up ACC Freshman of the Week honors in the same 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.
A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Wright averaged 28.5 points and 13 rebounds per game as Georgia Tech defeated No. 16 Virginia Tech, 69-53, on the road and Syracuse, 84-77, at home. He was 23-of-36 (63.9%) from the field and posted double-doubles in both wins. His 57 points were the second-most in back-to-back games by an ACC player this season. Against Syracuse, he scored 19 of his 31 points in the second half, making 8-of-12 shots from the floor with six dunks as Tech rallied from a five-point halftime deficit. He hit 14-of-25 shots from the floor in the game, and his 16 rebounds were a career-high in an ACC game. In the Virginia Tech win, he scored 17 of his 26 points and grabbed seven of his 10 rebounds in the second half as GT broke a 24-24 halftime tie and outscored the Hokies, 45-29, on the road. He was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor in the second half, 9-of-11 for the game, and 7-of-11 from the foul line.
A native of Newnan, Georgia, Kessler averaged 15.0 points and 6.0 rebounds last week in games against Marquette and No. 11 Florida State. He tied his season high with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting against Marquette, then had season and game highs in points (20), rebounds (8), offensive rebounds (5), blocks (4) and field goals (9) in the win over ACC leader Florida State. He made 9-of 10 field goals against the Seminoles and was 14-of- 16 from the floor in the two games. He led UNC to a comeback win over the Seminoles, who led the Tar Heels by 16 points in the first half and by 12 at the break. Kessler was one of four UNC freshmen to score in double figures, the first time in UNC history all four double-figure scorers were freshmen.
A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Withers averaged 14.0 points and 11.0 rebounds in wins over Notre Dame and Duke. He was 11-of-21 and shot 52.4% from the field in the two wins. Withers produced his third double-double of the season with 12 points and a career-high 13 rebounds against Notre Dame and followed it up with 16 points and nine rebounds in the overtime win at Duke, his ninth game this season with nine or more rebounds. His offensive rebound with 10 seconds remaining in regulation at Duke preserved the Cardinals’ possession and the game went to OT.
2020-21 ACC Player of the Week Honors
Nov. 30 – Keve Aluma, Jr., F, Virginia Tech
Dec. 7 – Moses Wright, Sr., F, Georgia Tech
Dec. 14 – Justin Champagnie, So., F, Pitt
Dec. 21 – Quincy Guerrier, So., F, Syracuse
Dec. 28 – David Johnson, So., G, Louisville
Jan. 4 – Jose Alvarado, Sr., G, Georgia Tech
Jan. 11 – Matthew Hurt, So., F, Duke
Jan. 18 – Justin Champagnie, So., F, Pitt; Tyrece Radford, So., G, Virginia Tech
Jan. 25 – Justin Champagnie, So., F, Pitt
Feb. 1 – Keve Aluma, Jr., F, Virginia Tech
Feb. 8 – Sam Hauser, Sr., F, Virginia
Feb. 15 – RaiQuan Gray, Jr., F, Florida State
Feb. 22 – Matthew Hurt, So., F, Duke
March 1 – Moses Wright, Sr., F, Georgia Tech
2020-21 ACC Freshman of the Week Honors
Nov. 30 – Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
Dec. 7 – Dre Davis, F, Louisville
Dec. 14 – Scottie Barnes, G, Florida State
Dec. 21 – DJ Steward, G, Duke
Dec. 28 – Shakeel Moore, G, NC State
Jan. 4 – Day’Ron Sharpe, F/C, North Carolina
Jan. 11 – DJ Steward, G, Duke
Jan. 18 – RJ Davis, G, North Carolina
Jan. 25 – Caleb Love, G, North Carolina
Feb. 1 – Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
Feb. 8 – Caleb Love, G, North Carolina
Feb. 15 – Scottie Barnes, G, Florida State
Feb. 22 – Kerwin Walton, G, North Carolina
March 1 – Walker Kessler, C, North Carolina; Jae’Lyn Withers, F, Louisville