Stars from both the UNC men’s and women’s basketball teams are garnering national attention. Senior center Armando Bacot and junior guard Deja Kelly were each named to their respective Late Season Top 20 Watch Lists for the Wooden Award. Bacot was also named one of 10 finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.

In addition, Bacot, Kelly and junior Alyssa Ustby of the women’s team were each named to the midseason team for the Naismith Trophy.

The players on these lists are considered the “front-runners” for the Wooden and Naismith awards, which are two of several given to the National Players of the Year in men’s and women’s college basketball.

Bacot is once again putting together a dominant season in the post for the Tar Heels. He ranks in the ACC’s top four in points per game (17.5, third), rebounds per game (11.3, first) and field goal percentage (55.7, fifth). This season, Bacot also became UNC’s all-time leader in both double-doubles and total rebounds, surpassing Billy Cunningham and Tyler Hansbrough for those respective records.

On the women’s side, Kelly and Ustby helped lead a resurgence which saw Carolina win eight consecutive ACC games following an 0-3 start in conference play. For the season, Kelly ranks in the ACC’s top 10 in points per game (15.9, sixth) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5, 10th). Ustby has dominated on the glass for the Tar Heels, as her 8.9 rebounds per game rank first on the team and are tied for third in the conference. Ustby is also one of just five players in the ACC who are shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. Her 52.4 mark ranks third in the league.

 

Featured image via Todd Melet

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