CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – There isn’t much doubt who will be both the ACC Player and Freshman of the Year when the league announces its award winners Monday.

Duke rookie Cameron Boozer is the only conference player to average a double-double this season, scoring 22.7 points and grabbing 10.2 rebounds per game for the regular-season champion Blue Devils, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation. 

So where on my All-ACC ballot, which was due back to the league office Sunday, might there be some debate?

 

Onyenso for DPOY

The league’s Defensive Player of the Year race is certainly an intriguing one. Duke has one of the nation’s truly elite defenses and Dame Sarr, Maliq Brown, Patrick Ngongba II all warrant consideration for the award. 

But Virginia shot-blocker Ugo Onyenso got my vote here. The 7-foot senior who started his career at Kentucky, then Kansas State, has blossomed with the Cavaliers. His 80 blocked shots in 31 games, an average of 2.6 per outing, is tied for the ACC’s lead with Syracuse’s William Kyle III.

Increasingly as the year has progressed, Virginia has been essentially funneling offensive drivers into Onyenso and fellow center Johann Grunloh, whose 73 blocked shots are third in the ACC. 

 

Scheyer for COY

Coach of the Year was also somewhat up for discussion. Virginia’s Ryan Odom and Miami’s Jai Lucas both deserve kudos for remaking programs on an almost unreal timeline. 

But it’s hard to overlook the job Jon Scheyer has done this season in Durham. Sure, he recruited himself a loaded roster with the best talent in the league. Being able to throw future NBA players out on the court is a massive advantage.

Duke head coach Jon Scheyer, right, speaks with Patrick Ngongba II (21) during an NCAA college basketball game in Durham, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

But Scheyer’s team didn’t just dominate the ACC. It dominated the nation.

And it did it not by overwhelming opponents with individual offensive talents. Duke wins with team defense.

Scheyer is in his fourth season taking over for Mike Krzyzewski and each year, Scheyer’s Blue Devils have improved their defensive efficiency rating, according to the basketball analytics website Kenpom.com.

None of that takes away from the work Odom did at Virginia this year. He guided the Cavaliers, who were picked fifth in the preseason, to the No. 2 seed in this week’s ACC tournament in Charlotte. He put together a roster that doesn’t have the talent Duke does, but has more experience, depth and versatility, and made it remarkably consistent. 

UVA went 27-4 and didn’t lose back-to-back games all year. 

 

My full ballot 

Player of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke

Freshman of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Duke

Defensive Player: Ugo Onyenso, Virginia

Most Improved Player of the Year: Juke Harris, Wake Forest

Sixth Man of the Year: Maliq Brown, Duke 

Coach of the Year: Jon Scheyer, Duke 

 

First-team All-ACC

Cameron Boozer (Duke), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford), Caleb Wilson (North Carolina), Malik Reneau (Miami),  Ryan Conwell (Louisville) 

Second-team All-ACC

Juke Harris (Wake Forest), Boopie Miller (SMU), Henri Veesaar (North Carolina), Thijs DeRidder (Virginia), Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville)

Third-team All-ACC

Robert McCray (Florida State), Tre Donaldson (Miami), Quadir Copeland (North Carolina State), Donnie Freeman (Syracuse), Jaron Pierre Jr. (SMU)

All-defensive team 

Ugo Onyenso (Virginia), Dame Sarr (Duke), Maliq Brown (Duke), Patrick Ngongba II (Duke), Ernest Udeh Jr. (Miami)

All-freshmen team

Cameron Boozer (Duke), Ebuka Okorie (Stanford), Caleb Wilson (North Carolina),Thijs DeRidder (Virginia), Mikel Brown Jr. (Louisville)