ACC Blog | Action Jackson

Player of the Week

Demetrius Jackson – Notre Dame (G, Jr., 6-1, 200, Mishawaka, IN)

Jackson has been the driving force behind Notre Dame’s 2-0 start to the 2015-2016 season. The Pre-Season All-ACC First Team selection is averaging 23.5 points while shooting a SCORCHING 62.1 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free thrown line. He’s also contributing 5.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists. The junior guard has been a bit streaky from beyond the arc, though, only hitting 33 percent of his attempts from long distance so far.

The 6-foot-1 Jackson opened the season with a career-high 27 points in an 87-56 home victory over St. Francis (Pa.) on Nov. 13. Jackson made 10 of his 14 shot attempts from the field, including three 3-pointers, for the Fighting Irish. He added eight rebounds and three dimes. While Jackson humbly gave credit to his teammates for getting him open and finding him in good spots on the perimeter, he was also able to create plays off the dribble for himself which led to a dunk and several successful drives to the basket. 

The Indiana native followed up his career night with 20 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in an 86-78 win over Milwaukee on Nov. 17. He dished out seven assists, grabbed three rebounds, and blocked one shot. Jackson’s athletic, leaping, and finishing abilities were on full display during a play in the second half in which he drove baseline and threw down a one-handed dunk over 6-foot-10 forward J.J. Panoske, drawing a foul in the process. Although the dunk could have been cleaner, catching part of the rim as Panoske crashed in for the block attempt, it sent the home crowd into a frenzy. His ensuing free throw completed the 3-point play and gave the Irish a 17-point cushion.

Who’s Hot?

Jaron Blossomgame – Clemson (F, Jr., 6-7, 220, Alpharetta, GA)

Blossomgame has pushed the Tigers to a 3-0 start and atop the ACC standings through the first week of the season. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound, junior forward is averaging 17.0 points (first on the team), 7.0 rebounds (second on the team), 2.0 blocks (second on the team), and 1.3 assists, so far. He has been efficient shooting the ball from the field (59 percent), 3-point line (37 percent), and free throw line (71 percent). In the Tigers’ season-opening 34-point win over NC Central on Nov. 13, Blossomgame led the team with 18 points and added four rebounds. He ignited the Tigers with his energy and athleticism after catching an alley-oop from Donte Grantham for the team’s first points of the game. He scored 16 points in the first half. Blossomgame scored 11 points, notched eight rebounds, dished out two assists and blocked one shot in a 33-point win over UTSA on Nov. 15. He followed that up with his third straight double figures scoring outing to start the season, with a team-high 22 points on 9-for-16 shooting, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two assists in a 20-point victory over Texas Southern on Nov. 19.  He scored 14 points after intermission.

FSU Freshmen – Dwayne Bacon (G, Fr., 6-7, 220, Lakeland, FL) & Malik Beasley (G, Fr., 6-5, 195, Alpharetta, GA)

Florida State’s dynamic freshmen duo of Dwayne Bacon and Malik Beasley have been a sight to see for Seminoles fans during the first week the season. In the team’s season-opening 109-62 home victory over Nicholls State on Nov. 15, Bacon knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing to start the game and never looked back. Bacon, a McDonald’s All-American selection last season, led the way with 23 points, the most by a freshman in his Seminoles debut. He shot 9-for-15 and added eight rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Beasley scored 21 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, to go along with two assists and two steals. Two nights later in a 98-70 home win over Jacksonville, Bacon and Beasley combined for 48 points on 17-for-29 shooting, connecting for 27 and 21 points, respectively. Bacon got out in transition and supplied the highlights in the first half with two dunks, including one off a steal. He had been named ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday for his performance against Nicholls State.

Brice Johnson – North Carolina (F, Sr., 6-9, 225, Orangeburg, SC)

Johnson has been nothing short of stellar for the 3-0 Tar Heels early this season. He’s recorded double-doubles in each of the team’s first three games. The 6-foot-9 Johnson is averaging 16.0 points on 58 percent shooting and 11.7 rebounds. He opened the season with 16 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a 91-67 over Temple on Nov. 13. The senior forward then contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds in a 92-65 win against Fairfield on Nov. 15. In a 78-68 win over Wofford, Johnson and Tar Heels possessed a distinct size advantage over the Terriers. Johnson used his size and length along the frontcourt to help him post a stat line of 16 points on 58 percent shooting, 14 rebounds, two blocks and two assists. He’s been North Carolina’s most consistent player through their first three games and has upped his play with the absence of senior point guard Marcus Paige.

Honorable Mention: Duke’s Grayson Allen (20 PTS, 3.7 REBS, 3.0 ASTS) Notre Dame’s Zach Auguste (16.0 PTS, 10.0 REBS, 2.5 ASTS), Miami’s (FL) Sheldon McClellan (17.3 PTS, 3.0 REBS, 2.0 ASTS), Duke’s Amile Jefferson (15.3 PTS, 12.7 REBS), Boston College’s Eli Carter (20.5 PTS, 5.0 REBS, 2.5 ASTS), Virginia Tech’s Zach LeDay (20.5 PTS, 12.0 REBS, 2.0 ASTS).

Who’s Not?

Justin Jackson – North Carolina (F, So., 6-8, 200, Spring, TX)

Jackson has started the season off slowly. The sophomore is in the midst of the shooting slump after struggling with his shot again in UNC’s 78-58 win over Wofford. Jackson, a 6-foot-8 forward, shot 2-for-8 from the floor and finished with five points. This came on the heels of scoring four in the opener against Temple and 11 in a lop-sided victory against Fairfield. On the season, he’s averaging 6.7 points on 37.5 percent from the field and has missed all nine of his 3-point attempts. He scored double figures in 11 of last season’s final 12 games and was considered to be one of the Tar Heels’ top offensive weapons this year. Head coach Roy Williams is not ready to be concerned, though, and has referred to Jackson’s recent shooting woes as just a rough stretch. It’s a long season and there will be ups and downs, but Jackson has more than enough time and talent to turn into the offensive player he proved himself to be last year.

Duke Freshmen – Brandon Ingram, Luke Kennard, Chase Jeter, Derryck Thornton

You can already see that Duke’s 2015 freshmen class will need some time before they can even begin to start to produce at the level of last year’s class. If you had the expectation that this class would start off on the same foot as the one that featured Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, and Tyus Jones, you need to lower your expectations and give these kids some time to grow. The star of the class, Ingram, has shot just 39 percent through three games, averaging 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists. Kennard, Jeter, and Thornton are shooting a combined 33 percent from the field for 5.3 points per game. Each player is facing their own learning curve and is continuing to get acclimated to bigger, stronger, and quicker opponents at the collegiate level. It’s only three games in, but it’s been a slow start for Duke’s talented group of freshmen.

Top 5 Point Guards in ACC

1. Marcus Paige – North Carolina (G, Sr., 6-2, 175, Marion, IA)

Paige, a 2015-2016 Bob Cousy Award candidate, has begun the year with another injury –  having yet to see the floor in his senior season due to a fractured right (non-shooting) hand he suffered on Nov. 3. Nonetheless, when healthy, he’s the best point guard in ACC and ranks in the top-3 at his position in the entire nation. Paige is a big reason why the Tar Heels entered the 2015-2016 season as the No. 1 team in the country, and has the potential to lead the team very far in 2016. Last season, he averaged a team-high 14.1 points on 41 percent shooting and 4.5 assists. His points per game average and field goal percentage were down compared to his sophomore year, but he was oft-injured as he battled plantar fasciitis in his right foot, a hip injury and sprains in both ankles. The key for Paige when he returns this season is being able to remain healthy and consistent. He’s at his best with the ball in his hands and can easily dominate a game with his ability to score from anywhere on the floor. While his numbers took a dip last season because of injuries and improved talent on UNC’s roster, expect Paige to return to his more efficient self that he showed as a sophomore, which will make him one of more complete and feared scorers in the country. It’ll also help his playmaking for his teammates.  

2. Demetrius Jackson – Notre Dame (G., Jr., 6-1, 200, Mishawaka, IN)

Jackson, who is also on the Bob Cousy Award Watch List, is one of the most electrifying and skilled point guards in the country. Now that he’s up from under Jerian Grant’s shadow, more people will come to notice this season. For the first time in his collegiate career, Jackson is running the show at point guard for the Fighting Irish and is currently starring is his new role. He’s off to a terrific start this season after averaging 12.4 points on 51 percent shooting, 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals as a sophomore. He can knock down jumpers or score at the rim, and has low turnover numbers. He’s a reliable player and is offensively gifted. He seems to have taken on his new responsibilities in the backcourt head on and don’t expect that change throughout the season. 

3. Anthony Barber – NC State (G, Jr., 6-2, 185, Hampton, VA)

With the unexpected departure of leading scorer Trevor Lacey to the NBA draft and the loss of Ralston Turner to graduation, the Wolfpack will lean heavily on the play of Cat Barber this season. Barber is expected to play a big role and has shown on numerous occasions that he’s able to step up his game and be a go-guy guy with the ball in his hands. Last season, he put together some of his best performances against ACC competition. He scored a career-high 34 points and five assists in NC State’s 81-70 victory over Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament. He won’t be expected to score 30 a night, but if he can maintain his current averages of 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, then the Wolfpack will greatly benefit. 

4. Xavier Rathan-Mayes – Miami (FL) (G, So., 6-3, 210, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada)

Rathan-Mayes is the definition of microwave scorer. You might remember him as the guy who scored 30 points during the final four minutes, 38 seconds at Miami last season. He finished that game with 35 points, and that was the second game in which he reached that point total. However, FSU lost both of those games. Rathan-Mayes has more help this season, as evident by the early season success of freshmen Dwayne Bacon, Malik Beasley, and Terance Mann. After shooting just 41 percent last season, Rathan-Mayes is shooting at a 52 percent clip so far this season while averaging 12.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds. One area he needs to improve is his 3-point shooting. He shot just 28 percent from downtown last season and is currently shooting just 14 percent so far this season. With more scorers around him, he should benefit from their penetration and get off some open shots from the perimeter.

5. Angel Rodriguez (G, Sr., 5-11, 185, Cupey, Puerto Rico)

Rodriguez provides leadership that is necessary for the Miami Hurricanes to be successful this season and make a nice NCAA Tournament run. The senior point guard is currently averaging a solid 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. The biggest task for him this season is being able to stay consistent and reliable. Similarly to Paige, Rodriguez has suffered a few injuries that have kept him in and out of the lineup and ultimately proved to be detrimental to his team’s success. When healthy, he’s able to contribute in many ways, which showed when he scored 24 points and added five assists, five steals, four rebounds and one block in a 24-point win over Duke last January.