North Carolina women’s basketball star Diamond DeShields has been honored as the USBWA National Freshman of the Year.

The announcement was made at the Bridgestone Arena, prior to the Women’s Final Four. DeShields and the Tar Heels fell just short of a trip to Nashville, falling to Stanford in the Elite Eight.

DeShields led Carolina to a strong 27-10 record and averaged 18 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game, displaying her talents all season long as one of the best players across the nation. She has quickly established herself as a player who relishes the spotlight in the biggest of games.

DeShields set four ACC freshman single-season records this season: total points with 648, fields goals made with 248, and double-figure scoring games with 32.

Already named the top freshman nationally by ESPN and Full Court, DeShields is also the only freshman who appeared on the John R. Wooden Award Top-15 list in 2014.

Last week, the ACC Rookie of the Year was tabbed as an AP All-America Honorable Mention.

Watching DeShields and the rest of the young returning cast in Carolina uniform next season promises to be a special treat.

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