Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Erick Green: ACC Player of the Year candidate?

Virginia Tech v Duke

DURHAM, NC - MARCH 05: Head coach James Johnson of the Virginia Tech Hokies stands with his player Erick Green #11 during their game against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 5, 2013 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Given the success that Miami and Duke have enjoyed this season, it’s difficult to envision a scenario in which a player from another team will win ACC Player of the Year. Shane Larkin’s been the leader for a veteran Hurricane squad that won the program’s first ACC title, and Duke big man Mason Plumlee was a part of the national Player of the Year discussion for much of the season.

But there are players worthy of consideration, including Virginia’s Joe Harris and Virginia Tech’s Erick Green. In Green’s case, is there any way a player whose team finished 4-14 in conference play can win the ACC’s top individual honor?

Many will scoff, citing the Hokies’ poor record as the biggest reason as to why the senior point guard shouldn’t even be considered. But a look at Green’s production and the other weapons around him reveals a player whose outstanding year should not be overlooked.

Green scored 35 points in Virginia Tech’s regular season finale on Sunday, a 90-79 loss at Wake Forest in which he shot 50% from the field (9-of-18), made 14 of 18 from the foul line and also contributed five rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Just one other Virginia Tech player reached double figures (Jarell Eddie finished with 13 points) in what was essentially a microcosm of the Hokies’ season in their first year under James Johnson. Virginia Tech simply did not have the depth needed to compete successfully in the ACC, which left Green to shoulder the burden on many nights.

Yet Green was still productive, as his 25.0 points per game leads the country and he shot 48.1% from the field. Green also averaged 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game, and per Ken Pomeroy’s numbers he’s fifth in offensive rating (a measurement of a player’s efficiency) among players who have a usage rate of 28% or higher.

The four players ahead of him: Trey Burke, Kelly Olynyk, Nate Wolters and Doug McDermott.

Will Green win ACC Player of the Year? Probably not due in large part to Virginia Tech’s lack of success. But that doesn’t mean Green’s accomplishments should be overlooked.

Essentially Green is “The Rose that Grew from Concrete” of this college basketball season, and hopefully his work is acknowledged with a first team All-ACC selection.

Raphielle also writes for the NBE Basketball Report and can be followed on Twitter at @raphiellej.