Duke center Jahlil Okafor named ACC player of the year

Duke center Jahlil Okafor is the first freshman to win ACC player of the year honors

Duke center Jahlil Okafor was selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference's player of the year, becoming first freshman ever to receive the honor, the conference announced.

Okafor received 44 votes from the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association, while Notre Dame senior guard Jerian Grant received 14 votes and Virginia junior guard Malcolm Brogdon got three votes.

Okafor has led the third-ranked Blue Devils to a 28-3 record, averaging 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds this season. Grant leads the conference in assists, while Brogdon averages 13.7 points and 2.6 assists.

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The All-ACC first team was led by unanimous selections Okafor and Grant. Brogdon was also named to the first team along with Syracuse center Rakeem Christmas, who also named the conference’s Most Improved Player.  The ACC’s leading scorer, Boston College junior guard Olivier Hanlan, rounded out the first team.

The second-team featured Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier, Quinn Cook of Duke, NC State’s Trevor Lacey and Virginia’s Justin Anderson.

- Scooby Axson