Wesley Named ACC Freshman Of The Week

Freshman Blake Wesley has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, the league announced on Monday, January 10, 2022. Wesley helped power the Irish through a 2-0 week in ACC play, defeating North Carolina 78-73 at home then claiming a 72-68 overtime victory at Georgia Tech.

In the two games, Wesley averaged 20 points per game, 4 assists, 3.5 steals and 2 assists.

The South Bend, Indiana, native set the tone for Notre Dame in the victory over North Carolina, sparking a 12-2 run in the first half, highlighted by a steal and slam to give the Irish a 10-point lead with 9:21 remaining.

Wesley finished the first half against North Carolina with 13 points, eventually finishing the contest with 18 points and a career-high four steals.

Down in Atlanta, Wesley would end up logging a career-high 40 minutes in the overtime victory, pouring in a game-high 22 points with seven rebounds and three steals. He made a series of clutch plays down the stretch of the game, none bigger than his three-point field goal with 1:08 remaining that erased a two-point Georgia Tech lead and eventually pushed the game into overtime.

The award is the second ACC weekly freshman award that Wesley has earned this season. He was also named ACC Freshman of the Week on Monday, December 13.

Entering this week’s action, Wesley is second in the ACC (14.3) in true freshman scoring, fifth among major conference true freshman and 14th among all Division I rookies.