Duke forward Jalen Johnson has earned ACC Freshman of the Week honors.
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.
Aluma earned ACC Player of the Week honors for the second time this week. He also claimed the distinction on Nov. 30 following the first week of regular-season play. Johnson also was named ACC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after first earning the award on Nov. 30.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Johnson averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game as Duke recorded home victories over Georgia Tech (75-68) and Clemson (79-53). He shot 10-of-18 (.556) from the field and 7-of-10 (.700) at the free-throw line. Johnson scored 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting in the Tuesday win over the Yellow Jackets, including six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a team-high three steals in 24 minutes. He posted another all-around effort Saturday versus Clemson with nine points, a team-high eight boards, team-high five assists and two steals.
Since returning from a foot injury that sidelined him for three games, Johnson has been one of the best all-around performers in the ACC. The freshman is averaging 15.0 points, a team-leading 8.3 rebounds and shooting .500 from the floor over the last four contests. For his efforts last week, Johnson was also tapped Duke’s PNC Achievers Student-Athlete of the Week.
This marks Johnson’s second ACC Freshman of the Week honor this season, as he earned the award on Nov. 30 after posting a stat line of 19 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and four blocked shots in the season-opening win against Coppin State. With Johnson and teammate DJ Steward each picking up two ACC Freshman of the Week honors, Duke is the conference’s only team to receive four rookie of the week recognitions this season.
Duke has now had an ACC Freshman of the Week in 64 of a possible 128 weeks over the last seven-plus seasons. Eighteen different Blue Devils have won the award at least once in that time.
Johnson and the Blue Devils (7-5, 5-3 ACC) face a road test on ESPN’s Big Monday, as they take on Miami in Coral Gables, Fla., at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
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
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
Per Release
