Justin Jackson came to Chapel Hill two years ago with a thin, wiry 6-foot-8 frame and gobs of untapped potential.

Now as a junior wing for head coach Roy Williams, Jackson has blossomed into the player many expected him to be when he was named a McDonalds All-American as a high-schooler.

On Wednesday, UNC’s most dangerous weapon was named by the Atlanta Tipoff Club as one of 10 semifinalists for the 2017 Naismith National Player of the Year Award.

Along with being named as part of the top 20 candidates for the Wooden Award in recent weeks, Jackson is now in contention for the two most prestigious individual honors in men’s college basketball.

Jackson leads the fifth-ranked Tar Heels’ in scoring this season with 18.4 points per game, after making massive improvements to his three-point shooting during the offseason.

UNC has also clinched at least a share of its second regular season ACC title in a row, with Jackson’s offensive versatility playing a large role in the team’s success throughout the year.

He and Duke sophomore guard Luke Kennard are widely thought to be the top two contenders for ACC Player of the Year. They are the only two representatives from the league on the Naismith Top 10 list, as well.

For the full list of Naismith Player of the Year candidates, click here.

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