Derrick Favors walked onto Georgia Tech’s campus followed by plenty of high expectations as one of the program’s most touted recruits in recent years.

He’ll enter this week’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament as the league’s top newcomer.

Favors was named ACC rookie of the year for the 2009-10 season after earning 45 of 53 votes from members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association in results released Tuesday. Maryland’s Jordan Williams was second with six votes after helping the Terrapins earn a share of the league’s regular-season title.

Favors is the 11th Georgia Tech player to win the award and first since Chris Bosh in 2003. No other school has won more than eight times.

Big things were expected right away from Favors, a McDonald’s All-American who was the preseason choice for rookie of the year after a stellar prep career in Atlanta.

“I just worked hard,” Favors said. “I worked on all my weaknesses and got stronger. I just didn’t pay any attention to the pressure.”

The 6-foot-10 Favors averaged 11.9 points and 8.4 rebounds this season to lead all league freshmen in scoring, rebounding, double-doubles, blocked shots and shooting percentage. He was named rookie of the week four times this season.

Favors reached double figures in scoring in his first nine college games, then scored in double figures for the last five games — including a 21-point, 18-rebound effort against Maryland in February.

His biggest adjustment early on was improving his conditioning — “There’s a lot of banging down low that goes along with the running,” he said.

Favors also worked to stay mentally focused night in and night out while trying to avoid early foul trouble that notably limited him in a loss at Duke.

The Yellow Jackets face North Carolina in Thursday’s ACC tournament first-round game in Greensboro, N.C., knowing that they need a win to bolster their NCAA chances.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure,” Favors said. “It’s just come out and do what we’re capable of doing.”