Duke sophomore forward Matthew Hurt was named the ACC Player of the Week, and North Carolina guard Kerwin Walton nabbed ACC Freshman of the Week laurels in the ACC men’s basketball weekly awards for this week. Hurt won Player of the Week honors for the second time this season (Jan. 11).
Walton becomes the fourth UNC freshman to earn the Freshman of the Week award this season. Only one other team has had four players claim Freshman of the Week honors in one season: Wake Forest in 1978-79 (Guy Morgan, Alvis Rogers, Jim Johnstone and Mike Helms).
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 Rochester, Minn., Hurt averaged 22.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg in wins over Wake Forest (84-60) and then-No. 7 Virginia (66-65) last week. He was 16-of-22 (.727) from the field and 8-of-12 (.667) from 3-point range last week. Hurt hit on 8-of-9 from the field at Wake Forest, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, with four rebounds and two assists. Against Virginia, he finished 8-of-13 from the field (5-of-8 behind the arc) with four rebounds. He also came up with a clutch defensive play, getting a piece of Kihei Clark’s potential game-winning 3-pointer at the final buzzer.
Walton averaged 16.5 ppg last week, going 12-of-20 from the field, including 8-of-14 from 3-point range. He also averaged 3.0 apg as the Tar Heels topped Northeastern (82-62) and Louisville (99-54). He matched his season-high with 14 points in the win over Northeastern, then set his season high with 19 points in the triumph over Louisville. The Hopkins, Minnesota, native nailed five 3-pointers against the Cardinals, the most by a Tar Heel this season. He hit four first-half 3-pointers against UofL to help UNC break a 17-17 tie and lead 48-29 at the break. Walton was 7-of-10 from the floor against Louisville, including 5 of 7 from three, and matched his season high with four assists.
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
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
Per Release
UNC Continues to Shine into the Final Stretch