NC State won its fourth straight game Sunday, a winning streak coach Kevin Keatts said has coincided with the elevated recent play of shooting guard Allerik Freeman.
Monday, the panel that selects the ACC’s top players each week validated that opinion by naming the graduate transfer from Baylor the conference’s Player of the Week. It is the second time Freeman has been recognized, following up his selection on Jan. 29 after his record-setting performance in a win at North Carolina.
Duke center Wendell Carter Jr. was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Week, his third selection of the season and the 16th weekly award for the Blue Devils — trying the league record for most in a single season.
Freeman averaged 22.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in two wins last week as the Pack improved to 20-9 (10-6 ACC). The Charlotte native led the Wolfpack in scoring with 20 points in an 82-66 win against Boston College on Tuesday. He then hit for a game-high 25 points with four rebounds, three assists and a career-high four steals in Sunday’s 92-72 win against Florida State.
Carter averaged 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in leading Duke to wins against Louisville and Syracuse last week. In addition to leading the team in points and rebounds last week, he also had team highs in assists (10) and blocked shots (five), while collecting four steals.
His 18-point, nine-rebound, six-assist performance against Syracuse on Saturday was especially impressive considering the attention focused on Carter as the result of a Yahoo Sports report into illegal payments to college basketball players released earlier in the day.
