For the first time in more than a decade, a player has repeated as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Virginia guard Reece Beekman took home the honor for the second straight year when the conference announced its awards on Monday.
Beekman, who entered the NBA Draft but withdrew after going through the feedback process, became the first player to claim consecutive ACC Defensive Player of the Year Awards since North Carolina’s John Henson in 2011 and 2012. The only other player to repeat since the league expanded in 2004 was Duke’s Shelden Williams in 2004 and 2005. That makes Beekman the first guard to repeat.
Beekman’s selection continued UVA’s success with the award. Since 2014, a Cavalier has received the honor six times. Darion Atkins won in 2015, while Malcolm Brogdon followed in 2016. Isaiah Wilkins, now a coach with the Wahoos, claimed ACC Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and De’Andre Hunter took it in 2019. Beekman added 2023 and 2024 most recently. Brogdon and Hunter went on to be named the National Association of Basketball Coaches Defensive Player of the Year in the years they won the conference honor.
As the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Beekman also earned a spot on the league’s All-Defensive team for the third straight season. He finished second in the conference with 2.1 steals per game on the way to becoming UVA’s all-time steals leader. He now has 226 steals in his career. That passed Othell Wilson (222) for the top spot. Beekman also owns the single-season steals record for Virginia with 73 in the 2021-2022 season. With 66 steals so far this season, he needs 7 to tie his own record in that category.
Beekman also earned Second-Team All-ACC recognition on Monday. That marked a three-year rise for the Wisconsin native. As a sophomore, he made the All-ACC Honorable Mention list and then improved to Third-Team All-ACC last season. Beekman averaged new career highs in scoring (14.3 points per game), assists (6.0 per game), and shooting percentage (46.1%) this season. He also committed the fewest fouls of his career (1.3 per game) and matched his career best for steals at 2.1. With those numbers, he led the ACC in assists and assist/turnover ratio (2.91), was second in steals, 11th in field goal percentage, and 15th in scoring.
Virginia coach Tony Bennett made it clear again after Saturday’s win against Georgia Tech just how much Beekman accomplished during the regular season.
“He’s always been a good player, but he’s taken a step each year, and he’s improved,” Bennett said.
“His game is understated. You’ve got to watch him over time. But what he’s done to get a third-place finish for this team [is remarkable],” Bennett said. He also said that Beekman has “had to have a lot on his shoulders. He’s had to play well on both ends for us to have a chance to be in games – not win games, be in games – and that’s a lot.”
Ryan Dunn joined his teammate on the league’s All-Defensive team. He also was named to the All-ACC Honorable Mention list. Dunn averaged 8.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 2.4 blocked shots per game. He led the league in blocks and finished 11th and 14th in rebounding and steals.
North Carolina’s RJ Davis received the ACC Player of the Year honor and was joined on the first team by PJ Hall (Clemson), Kyle Filipowski (Duke), Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest), and Blake Hinson (Pitt). Players that landed on the second team with Beekman included Armando Bacot (North Carolina), Judah Mintz (Syracuse), Norchad Omier (Miami), and Quienten Post (Boston College).
The other conference award winners were Notre Dame’s Markus Burton (Rookie of the Year), Pittsburgh’s Ishmael Leggett (Sixth Man of the Year), and Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin (Most Improved Player). North Carolina’s Hubert Davis was named ACC Coach of the Year.
