ACC Unveils Weekly Spotlight: Men’s Basketball Stars Shine

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Reyne Smith, a senior guard from Louisville, and Stanford’s senior center Maxime Raynaud both received the Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week recognition, while Duke’s guard/forward Cooper Flagg earned the ACC Rookie of the Week title, as announced on Monday.
 
Nominations for the ACC men’s basketball weekly accolades are submitted by individual schools and selected through a voting process involving an 18-member media panel.
 
Raynaud claimed Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. Flagg was recognized as Rookie of the Week for the fourth occasion.
 
Smith achieved a season-best of 27 points during the Cardinals’ 90-76 triumph against Florida State, marking Louisville’s initial ACC victory this season. Originating from Ulverstone, Australia, Smith completed 8-of-12 from the field overall and converted a season-high 6-of-9 attempts from three-point territory. He was instrumental to the Cardinals’ performance, particularly in the latter half, where he succeeded in back-to-back 3-pointers that expanded a four-point Louisville lead to a ten-point margin with eight minutes left in the contest. He also went 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.
 
Raynaud recorded an average of 18.0 points along with 14.5 rebounds in games against Merrimack and No. 10 Oregon, achieving double-doubles in both matchups. The Paris, France native contributed 16 points and 16 rebounds in a midweek victory against Merrimack. He followed this up with 20 points and 13 rebounds against No. 10 Oregon, marking his nation-leading 10th double-double this season. He continues to be ranked within the top 10 nationally in both points and rebounds.
 
On his 18th birthday, Flagg, hailing from Newport, Maine, averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 steals per game during a victorious week for the fifth-ranked Blue Devils. Flagg fell just one rebound short of his fourth 20-point double-double of the season, tallying 24 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block in Duke’s 68-47 win against George Mason. During Duke’s ACC victory over Georgia Tech, Flagg recorded 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists.
 
2024-25 ACC Players of the Week
Nov. 11 – Jamir Watkins, Sr., G, Florida State; Nijel Pack, Gr., G, Miami
Nov. 18 – Maxime Raynaud, Sr., C, Stanford
Nov. 25 – Cooper Flagg, Fr., G/F, Duke
Dec. 2 – Chucky Hepburn, Sr., G, Louisville
Dec. 9 – Ian Schieffelin, Sr., F, Clemson
Dec. 16 – Matt Cross, Sr., F, SMU
Dec. 23 – Reyne Smith, Sr., G, Louisville; Maxime Raynaud, Sr., C, Stanford
 
2024-25 ACC Rookie of the Week
Nov. 11 – Kon Knueppel, G/F, Duke
Nov. 18 – Cooper Flagg, G/F, Duke
Nov. 25 – Cooper Flagg, G/F, Duke
Dec. 2 – Jeremiah Wilkinson, G, Cal; Donnie Freeman, F, Syracuse
Dec. 9 – Cooper Flagg, G/F, Duke
Dec. 16 – Brandin Cummings, G, Pitt
Dec. 23 – Cooper Flagg, G/F, Duke