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Paolo Banchero brings home impressive award following freshman season at Duke

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•03/07/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Ethan Miller via Getty Images.

Paolo Banchero immediately made an impact as a freshman at Duke. On Monday morning, the ACC revealed its regular season awards for the 2021-2022 season, and Banchero saw his name a few times. Notably, Banchero was named as the ACC’s Freshman of the Year.

Banchero led Duke in scoring this season, averaging 17.1 points per game. He also led the team with 7.7 rebounds, and also posted 3.1 assists per game. On the year, Banchero shot 46.3% from the field, 32.4% from three-point range, and 75% from the free throw line.

Banchero’s emergence right out of the gate was a welcome sight for the Blue Devils. Duke finished the regular season with an overall record of 26-5, including a 16-4 mark against ACC opponents. The Blue Devils have the top overall seed in this week’s ACC Tournament.

Banchero currently sits eighth in KenPom’s Player of the Year standings, so he might not be done bringing home lofty awards just yet.

Banchero is the latest in a long line of ACC Freshman of the Year winners from Duke

With Banchero winning Freshman of the Year this season, he becomes the 13th Duke player to do so all-time. That is the most in the ACC. Georgia Tech has had 11 players to be named freshman of the year, while North Carolina has nine. Banchero is also the eighth Duke player to win the award in the past 11 seasons.

Additionally, Banchero was named to the All-ACC First Team for his strong play throughout this season. Banchero was selected alongside UNC’s Armando Bacot, Wake Forest’s Alondes Williams, Miami’s Kameron McGusty, and Syracuse’s Buddy Boeheim.

Duke’s Mark Williams also brought home an individual ACC award, winning the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Williams was named to the All-ACC Third Team, while Duke’s Wendell Moore Jr. was named to the All-ACC Second Team. Mike Krzyzewski finished second in Coach of the Year voting, behind Wake Forest’s Steve Forbes.

Here is a full look at the winners of ACC awards, which were unveiled on Monday: