Throughout UNC’s path to the top of the ACC standings this season, junior wing Justin Jackson has firmly established himself as the Tar Heels’ most dangerous threat on the offensive end.
The rangy, 6-foot-8 native of Tomball, Texas has scored at least 20 points on 16 different occasions for UNC during his breakout campaign–including in both of the team’s wins this past week over No. 7 Louisville and Pittsburgh.
As a result, the ACC announced Monday that Jackson was named the conference Player of the Week for the second time this season.
He also took home the award in mid-December following a career-high 34-point performance against Kentucky in Las Vegas.
Voting is determined by a 15-member media panel.
Jackson is averaging 18.8 points per game for the year, and has made 83 three-pointers–just 12 shy of the single-season school record of 95 by Shammond Williams during the 1996-97 season.
His ability to score both inside and outside has allowed the Tar Heels to make up for a plethora of different injuries this season, knowing that Jackson is able to play multiple positions at a high level.
Out of UNC’s first 16 conference games, Jackson has led the team in scoring 12 times.
With the end of the regular season right around the corner, many analysts feel he’s also making a late push at Duke sophomore guard Luke Kennard for the ACC Player of the Year award.
That race could ultimately be decided in the UNC-Duke matchup on Saturday, which takes place in Chapel Hill at the Smith Center.
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