UNC has announced the 101st winning class of the school’s Patterson Medal. The medal is the most prestigious athletics award given by the university.
The 2024 class is made up of four standouts in their respective sports: Armando Bacot in men’s basketball, Austin Greaser in men’s golf, Fiona Crawley in women’s tennis and Vance Honeycutt in baseball.
Congratulations to our 2024 Patterson Medal winners! 👏
🏅 𝗔𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗼𝘁, @UNC_Basketball
🏅 𝗙𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗹𝗲𝘆, @UNC_wtennis
🏅 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿, @UNCmensGolf
🏅 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗰𝘂𝘁𝘁, @DiamondHeels pic.twitter.com/lbSalH5GiI— UNC Tar Heels (@GoHeels) July 10, 2024
Armando Bacot is the most prolific rebounder in the long history of Carolina men’s basketball, breaking the record previously owned by Tyler Hansbrough in 2023 and ending his five-year career with 1,715. In addition, Bacot holds the school records for double-doubles (87) and offensive rebounds (593), while ranking second in points with 2,347. Only Hansbrough scored more as a Tar Heel. Bacot is one of just two Tar Heels ever to average a double-double over his entire collegiate career and is only the fourth to win UNC’s Team MVP award three times.
Bacot shattered UNC’s single-season rebounding record with 511 boards in 2021-22, leading Carolina on an unforgettable run to the NCAA championship game. That season saw Bacot tie David Robinson’s single-season NCAA record for double-doubles with 31 and become the first player ever to record six double-doubles in NCAA Tournament play. He earned first team All-ACC honors three times and is tied with Wake Forest’s Tim Duncan for the most double-doubles in ACC history. Bacot is the 31st UNC men’s basketball player to win the Patterson Medal.
“I can’t think of a better person to win the Patterson Medal than Armando,” said head coach Hubert Davis. “I tell our guys all the time that to be a UNC men’s basketball player you have to be elite in three areas – on the court, off the court and in the classroom. Armando checked all three boxes throughout his career, and I’m so happy he’s being celebrated and recognized for that.”
Armando Bacot finished his career as UNC’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles. (Image via Todd Melet)
Fiona Crawley is perhaps the most decorated player in the history of the UNC women’s tennis program. Her junior season in 2022-23 is one of the most dominant in any sport in Carolina history, as Crawley won ACC Player of the Year, National Player of the Year, the 2022 ITA Fall Championship, an ITA National Team Indoor Championship, Carolina’s first-ever NCAA team championship (beating NC State in the title match) and the NCAA doubles championship with Carson Tanguilig.
Crawley won 141 matches in her college career, which ranks fourth in Carolina history. She earned first team All-America honors in singles in each of her last three seasons. Other career accomplishments include winning the 2021 ITA Fall Doubles title with Elizabeth Scotty and winning ACC Tournament titles in 2021 and 2024. Crawley played in the U.S. Open’s main draw in both singles and doubles in 2023 before returning to Chapel Hill for her senior season. She is the fourth women’s tennis player to win the Patterson Medal.
“The Patterson Award winner is an incredible honor, which Fiona earned as one of the best tennis players in the country, but off the court, she is an even better person and teammate,” said head coach Brian Kalbas. “We are all so proud of Fiona and her accomplishments, and we are grateful for everything she did to elevate Carolina tennis.”
Fiona Crawley helped UNC win its first ever NCAA team title in 2023. (Image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati)
Austin Greaser was at the forefront of the best seasons in the history of UNC men’s golf. Greaser helped Carolina win 19 tournaments, including the 2024 ACC Championship — the program’s first outright conference title since 2006. He earned medalist honors at three tournaments, including the 2024 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional at Finley Golf Club. Greaser also posted other 14 top-five finishes.
Greaser’s UNC teams reached the national quarterfinals at each of the last four NCAA Championships and is the only program in the country to do so. He earned second team All-America honors in 2024.
On the non-collegiate circuit, Greaser finished in second place at the 2021 U.S. Amateur and won the 2022 Western Amateur. He has competed as an amateur at both The Masters and the U.S. Open in 2022.
“This is an incredible honor for Austin made even more special as the first-ever men’s golf recipient of the Patterson Medal,” said head coach Andrew DiBitetto. “Austin earned this prestigious award as his impact on our program was significant. Austin produced on the course from day one throughout his five years, and he helped change our culture with his character, determination, resiliency, leadership and work ethic. It’s hard to find someone more committed to improvement and the process of becoming the best version of himself.”
Austin Greaser is the first UNC golfer to ever win the Patterson Medal. (Image via UNC Men’s Golf on Twitter)
Vance Honeycutt concluded a stellar collegiate career by leading the Diamond Heels to their 12th Men’s College World Series appearance in 2024. Honeycutt burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2022 by becoming the first player in program history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season. He hit a program-record 25 homers in total that season, including two in an ACC Championship win against NC State.
As a junior in 2024, Honeycutt once again posted a 20-20 season, breaking his own single-season record with 28 and setting UNC’s all-time record with 65, the fourth-most in ACC history. He hit six home runs in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, including a walk-off blast in Game 1 of the NCAA Super Regionals against West Virginia. Honeycutt would record another walk-off with a single against Virginia in the College World Series.
Honeycutt’s seven multi-homer games are the most in UNC history, and he’s one of just two Tar Heels ever to hit home runs in five consecutive games. He is also the only Power 5 conference player ever to hit at least 60 home runs and steal at least 70 bases in a career. He won back-to-back ACC Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 2023 and 2024, won the Rawlings Gold Glove in center field and earned first team All-America and first team Academic All-America honors as a junior, the first Tar Heel ever to do so. Honeycutt is the 17th baseball player to win the Patterson Medal, and the first to do so since Dustin Ackley in 2009.
“Vance is an extraordinary player and exceptional young man,” said head coach Scott Forbes. “He has been a leader in our program for three years and led us to the College World Series this year. He leads by example and plays the game the right way. Vance has been a great representative of our baseball program and university on the field and in the community. He is the embodiment of a student-athlete and takes pride in doing everything like a champion.”
Vance Honeycutt accounted for two walk-off hits for Carolina in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. (Image via UNC Baseball on Twitter)
The Patterson Medal has been presented annually since 1924. Recipients of the award must have competed in at least three seasons for the Tar Heels and concluded their collegiate eligibility. While career athletic accomplishments are the primary factors in selecting winners, sportsmanship and leadership are also considered.
For a complete list of Patterson Medal winners, click here.
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