There's a good chance 6-11 Jahlil Okafur, in many eyes the top freshman in the nation, will be the preseason choice as ACC Rookie of the Year. Should he go on to win at season's end, he'd be the third Blue Devil so honored in the past four years.
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Surprisingly, that productivity - and recognition - is unusual for Duke. Two other teams have produced more Rookies of the Year since the ACC began honoring freshmen in 1976. In fact, Bobby Cremins had more honorees (eight) during his career at Georgia Tech from 1982 through 2000 than Duke has overall.
Bill Foster brought Jim Spanarkel, Mike Gminski and Gene Banks to Durham in consecutive seasons (1976-78). Then, despite adding some of the greatest players in league history under Mike Krzyzewski, circumstance caused the Devils to go nearly a quarter-century until their next award recipient, Chris Duhon in 2001.
The son of one former Rookie of the Year, UVa's Bryant Stith, is a freshman this year at Charlottesville but not considered in a class with his father. Duke freshman Grayson Allen is likened to FSU's Bob Sura, the 1994 ACC Rookie of the Year.
ROOKERY ACC Rookies of the Year by School (Since Award Instituted in 1976, Freshmen Only) |
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No. | School | Players |
11 | Georgia Tech | Mark Price ('83), Bruce Dalrymple ('84), Duane Ferrell ('85), Tom Hammonds ('86), Dennis Scott ('88), Kenny Anderson ('90), Martice Moore ('93), Stephon Marbury ('94), Ed Nelson ('02), Chris Bosh ('03), Derrick Favors ('10) |
9 | North Carolina | Sam Perkins ('81), Michael Jordan ('82), J.R. Reid ('87) Ed Cota ('97), Joseph Forte ('00), Marvin Williams ('05), Tyler Hansbrough ('06), Brandan Wright ('07), Harrison Barnes ('12) |
7 | Duke | Jim Spanarkel ('76), Mike Gminski ('77)*, Gene Banks ('78),Chris Duhon ('01), Kyle Singler ('08), Austin Rivers ('12), Jabari Parker ('14) |
4 | Virginia | Ralph Sampson ('80), Bryant Stith ('89), Chris Williams ('99), Sylven Landesberg ('09) |
3 | Wake Forest | Rodney Rogers ('91), Robert O'Kelley ('98), Chris Paul ('04) |
2 | Maryland | Buck Williams ('79), Joe Smith ('94) |
1 | Boston College | Olivier Hanlan ('13) |
1 | Clemson | Greg Buckner ('95) |
1 | Florida State | Bob Sura ('92) |
1 | N.C. State | Hawkeye Whitney ('77)* |
*Tie. |