All-ACC Predictions

I have been following ACC hoops for over 20 years. Ever since high school, I have tried to predict the All-ACC teams before they are released. I am usually pretty close. This year's first team is the most difficult all-conference team I have ever tried to predict. I think there are 10 players worthy of first team consideration. The official awards are released on Monday, but my picks are as follows:

1ST TEAM ALL-ACC

Ty Lawson (UNC) - Gets my vote for ACC Player of the Year.
Tyler Hansbrough (UNC) - Not dominant but leads league in scoring.
Tyrese Rice (BC) - Carried an average team to at-large consideration.
Gerald Henderson (DU) - Edged out Singler based on 2nd half of season.
Jack McClinton (Miami) - Clutch shooter, hits 47% of threes.

2ND TEAM ALL-ACC

Toney Douglas (FSU) - Would be 1st team any other year.
Jeff Teague (Wake) - Ditto.
Kyle Singler (DU) - Duke's best all-around player.
Greivis Vasquez (MD) - Had triple-double against UNC.
Trevor Booker (CU) - Best post-up scorer and rebounder in ACC.

3RD TEAM ALL-ACC

A.D. Vassallo (VT) - Can create own shot, led league in minutes played.
Malcolm Delaney (VT) - 2nd in minutes played and free throw pct.
Danny Green (UNC) - Heels' most consistent player all year.
James Johnson (Wake) - Solid inside presence for the Deacons.
Gani Lawal (GT) - 2nd in rebounds and FG pct. albeit with worst team.

I'd give strong honorable mention to K.C. Rivers (Clemson), Wayne Ellington (UNC), and Brandon Costner (NC State). 1st team was very difficult to decide -- I really like watching Douglas and Teague play so it's hard for me to leave them off of 1st team, but who can I take off? McClinton is money in crunch time. Rice carried his team and will get votes because he has been 1st team in the past. Henderson developed a jump shot. In my opinion, Lawson and Hansbrough are the only locks for first team. I think the Charlotte Observer was insane to write that Hansbrough might not make first team.

OTHER AWARDS

All-Freshmen team: Landesberg (UVa), Shumpert (GT), Davis (UNC), Alabi (FSU), and Aminu (Wake)

Player of the Year: Lawson (UNC)

Coach of the Year: Leonard Hamilton (FSU)