“BC’s Hand Jr. and UNC’s Jackson Shine in ACC Men’s Basketball Weekly Accolades!”

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Boston College sophomore guard Donald Hand Jr. has been awarded Atlantic Coast Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades, while North Carolina guard Ian Jackson received ACC Rookie of the Week honors, as declared on Monday.
 
The weekly ACC men’s basketball honors are suggested by the respective institutions and finalized through a vote conducted by an 18-member media committee.
 
Hand Jr. registered a personal best of 29 points alongside 10 rebounds during Boston College’s home victory against Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, December 28. The Virginia Beach, Virginia native connected on 9-of-20 attempts from the field and was flawless at the free-throw line with 9-of-9 in 34 minutes of gameplay. This marked Hand’s fourth double-double this season – the highest among ACC guards and tied for fourth overall in the conference. The 29 points represented a season high for a BC player and were the most scored in Conte Forum since March 2, 2024 (30 – Quinten Post vs. Pitt).
 
This signifies the first instance where both a father and son have been acknowledged as ACC Players of the Week. Hand’s father, Donald Sr., received ACC Player of the Week recognition on January 31, 2000, while competing at Virginia.
 
Jackson achieved his initial collegiate start and tallied a season-high 26 points in the Tar Heels’ 97-81 home win over Campbell on Sunday, December 29. He hit 9-for-16 shooting against the Fighting Camels, landed three 3-pointers, and secured five rebounds in a season-high 36 minutes, additionally posting a game-high plus-17 rating. Hailing from The Bronx, New York, Jackson previously scored 24 points against UCLA and is the first UNC freshman to achieve at least 20 points in successive games since Cole Anthony recorded 25 at Syracuse and 28 against Wake Forest in 2019-20. Jackson has become the 10th Tar Heel freshman to score 24 or more points in consecutive contests and the first since Anthony.
 
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
Dec. 30 – Donald Hand Jr., So., G, Boston College
 
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
Dec. 30 – Ian Jackson, G, North Carolina