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ACC Basketball: Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett lead Player of the Year race

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 27: Teammates RJ Barrett #5 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils talk during their game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 27: Teammates RJ Barrett #5 and Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils talk during their game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 27, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

4. Ky Bowman – Boston College

No player in the entire ACC is more important to the success of his team more than Bowman. The junior point guard already has had an illustrious career in Chestnut Hill. Head Coach Jim Christian has had a struggle trying to bring this program back to relevance but this year with the help of his star the Eagles appear to have finally figured it out and become a formidable opponent. The Eagles are a pushover no longer.

A season ago Boston College had arguably the best backcourt in the country with Bowman and now NBA player Jerome Robinson. Now that Robinson has left, the sophomore has been given the reigns to the offense. Bowman is a legitimate triple-double threat every time he touches the floor. Standing at only 6’1” tall, the point guard is a tremendous rebounder. He is one of the hardest players in the ACC to game plan for due to his ability to score from all three levels, rebound and pass.

Bowman has always been this good, but the difference is the last two seasons he has had a better team around him. With the better team around him, Bowman becomes that much harder to prepare for. He has a penchant for drawing the defense when he drives the lane and kicking the ball out to an open shooter or utilizing his passing ability to feed the ball down low to the big men for easy baskets. The unfortunate thing for Bowman, is that the remaining players on this countdown are all on better teams and potential All-American players.