Faculty basketball preseason journeys are already underway. (We hear the Bahamas are pretty this time of yr, Louisville. Disgrace our invite received misplaced!) That’s our signal that rosters are mainly finalized, and it’s lastly price asking the query:
How’s the ACC trying?
If nothing else, bigger. Cal, Stanford, and SMU are actually formally members, which means the 18-team “Atlantic Coast” Convention stretches the width of america and the size of the East Coast. However the league has a lot to boast about. No convention has despatched extra groups to the Remaining 4 the previous three seasons than the ACC (4), with 4 totally different packages — North Carolina, Duke, Miami, and NC State — every making an look. As for the longer term, the ACC is bringing in 9 five-star freshmen, essentially the most of any convention — and greater than the Large 12 and Large East mixed. The convention has 4 of the nation’s prime 15 recruiting lessons, per 247Sports: No. 1 Duke, No. 7 Miami, No. 8 UNC, and No. 14 Georgia Tech. Two others, Clemson and Notre Dame, crack the highest 25.
The switch portal was much less type to the league, although there are nonetheless loads of contributors coming in. However of The Athletic’s prime 100 transfers, not one of the prime 15 joined the ACC. Solely 13 of the highest 100 best-available gamers picked ACC faculties, with no league member rating within the prime 20 nationally in switch portal hauls.
Nonetheless, the league has loads of expertise, with a few of its groups constructed extra round skilled stars. A 3rd of the ACC has at the least 4 gamers with greater than 2,000 profession Division I minutes, and 9 totally different groups have at the least one participant with greater than 3,000.
Stability that with three new coaches — Pat Kelsey (Louisville), Andy Enfield (SMU), and Kyle Smith (Stanford) — and there may be a lot to look ahead to this ACC season. Right here’s how we see all of it shaking out, with a deeper take a look at each workforce’s roster.
1. Duke
Largest losses: Kyle Filipowski (16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg); Jared McCain (14.3 ppg, 5 rpg); Jeremy Roach (14 ppg, 3 apg); Mark Mitchell (11.6 ppg, 6 rpg)
Returning rotation gamers: Tyrese Proctor (10.5 ppg, 3.7 apg); Caleb Foster (7.7 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 1 Cooper Flagg, No. 6 Khaman Maluach, No. 14 Isaiah Evans, No. 18 Kon Knueppel, No. 26 Patrick Ngongba II, No. 39 Darren Harris
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: How can a workforce that misplaced its prime 4 scorers and returns solely two rotation gamers prime our rankings? Due to who it’s bringing in, beginning with Flagg, the No. 1 recruit within the nation. The Maine native has lengthy been seen as a generational expertise. He needs to be on campus solely about 9 months, earlier than doubtless turning into the highest choose within the 2025 draft.
That explains lots of Jon Scheyer’s offseason roster strikes. The third-year coach offloaded a number of high-profile recruits, together with 4 former five-stars, in favor of plug-and-play transfers who complement Flagg’s talent set. In comes Mason Gillis (Purdue), the reigning Large Ten Sixth Man of the Yr and a profession 40.7 % 3-point shooter with nationwide championship recreation expertise. Maliq Brown (Syracuse), an All-ACC defender; and Sion James (Tulane), a wrecking ball of a wing who has performed virtually 4,000 D-I minutes, additionally arrived. Then there’s the remainder of Duke’s elite recruiting class, together with 4 different five-star skills — like Maluach, the uncooked 7-foot-2 South Sudanese middle who simply appeared within the Olympics — to spherical out the rotation. Proctor and Foster want to remain wholesome after lacking time final season. In the event that they do? Duke has the expertise, top-end expertise and position definition essential to make a nationwide championship run.
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2. North Carolina
Largest losses: Armando Bacot (14.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg); Harrison Ingram (12.2 ppg, 8.8 rpg); Cormac Ryan (11.5 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: RJ Davis (21.2 ppg, 3.5 apg); Elliot Cadeau (7.3 ppg, 4.1 apg); Seth Trimble (4.2 ppg); Jae’Lyn Withers (4.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg); Jalen Washington (3.9 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 8 Ian Jackson, No. 11 Drake Powell, No. 89 James Brown
Prime 100 transfers added: No. 16 Cade Tyson (Belmont)
Why they’re right here: You possibly can’t do higher than bringing again a first-team All-American guard like Davis, arguably the very best returning participant in all of faculty basketball. Shedding three different starters, together with Bacot, stings, however Davis alone raises the ceiling in Chapel Hill. With him, Cadeau, Trimble and top-10 recruit Jackson — already incomes rave opinions this summer time from the teaching employees — UNC ought to have the most effective perimeter teams within the sport.
Add in Tyson, a profession 44.6 % 3-point shooter, and Powell, who could possibly be the workforce’s greatest defender from Day 1, and Hubert Davis’ workforce is about on the wings. The frontcourt is the place issues get a bit of hairier. UNC added Ven-Allen Lubin (Vanderbilt) late within the portal window to fortify its inside, and both he or Washington must emerge as an every-game beginning middle. In that case, then the Tar Heels can problem rival Duke for the convention title — and there’s no telling how far Davis can take UNC in March.
Profession Division I minutes on roster
Crew | Minutes |
---|---|
20,677 (5 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
18,252 (5 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
16,988 (5 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
15,869 (4 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
15,236 (4 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
14,876 (2 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
13,246 (4 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
13,221 (3 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
12,538 (3 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
12,111 (2 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
12,007 (3 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
11,929 (one participant with 2,000-plus) |
|
9,859 (2 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
9,063 (one participant with 2,000-plus) |
|
8,466 (2 gamers with 2,000-plus) |
|
8,077 (1 participant with 2,000-plus) |
|
6,182 (1 participant with 2,000-plus) |
|
5,456 (1 participant with 2,000-plus) |
3. Louisville
Largest losses: Skyy Clark (13.2 ppg); Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg); Mike James (12.6 ppg, 5 rpg); Tre White (12.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg); JJ Traynor (10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Ty-Laur Johnson (8.7 ppg, 3.6 apg); Curtis Williams (5.3 ppg); Kaleb Glenn (3.9 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: None
Prime 100 freshmen added (1): No. 34 Khani Rooths
Prime 100 transfers added (4): No. 17 Terrence Edwards Jr. (James Madison), No. 46 Chucky Hepburn (Wisconsin), No. 61 J’Vonne Hadley (Colorado), No. 70 Kasean Pryor (South Florida)
Why they’re right here: Are you able to rebuild a complete program in a single offseason? We’re about to search out out, with Louisville as the nationwide check case. The Cardinals removed their coach, their total roster and one way or the other nonetheless ended up with essentially the most skilled and productive group of gamers within the ACC.
Pat Kelsey’s workforce leads the league in D-I minutes performed, profession made 3s and prime 100 transfers added — however nobody, clearly, has achieved something in a UL uniform. Nonetheless, having 5 gamers with over 2,000 profession D-I minutes, plus 5 who’ve made at the least 50 profession 3s, needs to be a boon for Kelsey’s 3-point comfortable offense. In Kelsey’s 12 years as head coach, his groups have completed within the prime 75 in 3-point price 10 occasions — together with final season, when Faculty of Charleston completed seventeenth nationally after taking 46.9 % of its pictures from deep.
Among the many notable additions: Edwards, the Solar Belt Participant of the Yr who led JMU to a program-best 32 wins; Hepburn, an All-Large Ten defender and three-year starter; and Pryor, who led USF to 21 wins in 22 video games final season after turning into a starter. This rating is admittedly a raffle on Kelsey getting all of the gamers to coalesce, however Louisville has the expertise to make one of many largest year-to-year leaps within the sport — and get again to the NCAA Match.
4. Miami
Largest losses: Norchad Omier (17 ppg, 10 rpg); Wooga Poplar (13.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg); Bensley Joseph (9.6 ppg); Kyshawn George (7.6 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: Matthew Cleveland (13.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg); Nijel Pack (13.3 ppg, 3.6 apg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 7 Jalil Bethea, No. 50 Austin Swartz
Prime 100 transfers added: No. 84 Brandon Johnson (East Carolina), No. 91 Lynn Kidd (Virginia Tech)
Why they’re right here: Final season’s Remaining 4 encore was a prepare wreck because the Hurricanes struggled with accidents and depth. Shedding Norchad Omier, a strolling double-double and this system’s solely actual massive man, was a troublesome blow, too. However Jim Larrañaga by no means stays down for lengthy, proving it by hanging onto his greatest two perimeter gamers, signing this system’s highest-ranked recruit in practically 4 a long time, and including much-needed, lacking depth by way of the portal.
Together with Pack and Cleveland, Miami has 5 gamers with at the least 50 profession made 3s — which ties the league lead — and that’s earlier than factoring in Bethea, a knockdown shooter and projected lottery choose in subsequent yr’s NBA Draft. Kidd and Johnson add vital measurement within the frontcourt, and Johnson can stretch the ground in methods Omier couldn’t. Don’t sleep on Jalen Blackmon (Stetson), both. Not solely did the 6-3 guard common 21.3 factors per recreation final season, the 14th-most in D-I, however he dropped 43 within the Atlantic Solar title recreation to ship the Hatters to their first NCAA Match. The Hurricanes could also be undersized once more — par for the course recently below Larrañaga — and battle defensively due to it, however all of the items are there for an additional top-50 offense, plus a return to the Large Dance.
Largest losses: Kevin “Boopie” Miller (15.6 ppg); Andrew Carr (13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Damari Monsanto (5.1 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: Hunter Sallis (18 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Cameron Hildreth (13.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Efton Reid III (9.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg); Parker Friedrichsen (5.1 ppg);
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 88 Juke Harris
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: Solely two first- or second-Crew All-ACC gamers from final season are returning: Davis at UNC and Sallis at Wake Forest. The previous five-star recruit pulled his identify out of the NBA Draft — the place he doubtless would’ve been a first-round choose — on the final minute, giving Steve Forbes the very best returner he’s had but in Winston-Salem.
That additionally means expectations in Forbes’ fifth season might be as excessive as ever. Making the NCAA Match, which the Demon Deacons have been near the previous three seasons, is paramount. That’s possible with Sallis and two different starters again: Hildreth, one of many league’s craftier guards, and Reid, one other former five-star recruit who stabilizes the frontcourt. Given Forbes’ monitor file within the switch portal, we’re betting on massive issues from at the least one among his additions. Perhaps Omaha Biliew (Iowa State), one other former five-star who may begin at energy ahead? Or probably Tre’Von Spillers (Appalachian State), who was named All-Solar Belt in his first season of D-I ball? Both approach, with 5 of its prime eight gamers again from final season — tied with UNC for the second-most within the ACC — Wake Forest has a robust sufficient basis to recover from the hump for the primary time within the Forbes period.
Profession made 3-pointers on roster
Crew | 3-pointers |
---|---|
853 (5 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
755 (5 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
685 (5 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
515 (3 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
512 (4 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
489 (3 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
476 (4 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
471 (3 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
427 (2 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
416 (4 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
394 (4 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
373 (3 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
344 (2 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
299 (2 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
261 (3 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
252 (2 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
201 (0 gamers with 50-plus) |
|
185 (1 participant with 50-plus) |
Largest losses: Blake Hinson (18.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Carlton “Bub” Carrington (13.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 4.1 apg); Federiko Federiko (4.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
Returning rotation gamers: Ishmael Leggett (12.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Jaland Lowe (9.6 ppg); Guillermo Diaz Graham (6.7 ppg); Zack Austin (6.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg); Jorge Diaz Graham (3.5 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: None
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: Carrington, a shock one-and-done, was Pitt’s greatest freshman final season, however Lowe — who averaged 13.1 factors, 4.1 assists and three.6 rebounds per recreation in his 19 video games as a starter — wasn’t far behind. He may turn into a bona fide all-league participant, and he’s already incomes buzz as a possible first-round choose. Lowe’s the best set-up man for Pitt’s varied returners, particularly Leggett, the reigning ACC Sixth Man of the Yr who dropped 30 factors within the convention semifinals.
As for brand new arrivals, Damian Dunn (Houston) is lastly free from Kelvin Sampson’s doghouse and might hopefully return to the potent scoring kind (14.6 ppg) he confirmed in 4 seasons at Temple. Ahead Cam Corhen (Florida State) supplies one other frontcourt presence who ought to thrive in pick-and-rolls with Lowe and Leggett. Jeff Capel’s workforce is within the prime third of the league in profession made 3s, and if it might capitalize on that capturing proficiency — prefer it did late final season, profitable 10 of its last 13 video games — then a second NCAA Match berth in three seasons is inside attain.
7. Georgia Tech
Largest losses: Miles Kelly (13.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg); Kyle Sturdivant (8.8 ppg); Dallan Coleman (5.9 ppg); Tafara Gapare (5.1 ppg); Tyzhaun Claude (4.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg); Amaree Abram (3.4 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: Baye Ndongo (12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg); Naithan George (9.8 ppg, 4.7 apg); Kowacie Reeves Jr. (9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg); Lance Terry (10.1 ppg in 2022-23)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 59 Jaeden Mustaf
Prime 100 transfers added: No. 33 Javian McCollum (Oklahoma)
Why they’re right here: That is greater than you’ll discover the Yellow Jackets in different preseason rankings, however we’re calling our shot with Damon Stoudamire’s second squad: This workforce could make the NCAA Match. Georgia Tech returns three of its prime 4 gamers, however most essential amongst them are Ndongo — who posted this system’s greatest freshman stats since Chris Bosh and Derrick Favors — and George, who had the fourth-best help price within the ACC final season. Reeves is a spotlight reel in ready on the wing, and Terry, who missed all of final season with a calf damage, is a profession 37.2 % 3-point shooter who can forestall defenses from collapsing on Ndongo inside.
However McCollum is the opposite purpose to be enthusiastic about GT. The nation’s second-best free-throw shooter final season (94.3 %) is a pick-and-roll maestro who led the Sooners in scoring, and that’s even after his 3-point shot cratered in OU’s last 15 video games. McCollum shot 39.8 % from 3 in Oklahoma’s first 15 video games … and 21.5 % over its final 15. With him and George within the backcourt, pick-and-rolls with Ndongo needs to be as potent as any within the ACC. The Yellow Jackets are younger — eleventh within the ACC in D-I minutes — however needs to be enjoyable.
8. Clemson
Largest losses: PJ Corridor (18.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg); Joseph Girard III (15.1 ppg); RJ Godfrey (6.1 ppg); Alex Hemenway (5.2 ppg); Jack Clark (4.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Returning rotation gamers: Chase Hunter (12.9 ppg, 3.2 apg); Ian Schieffelin (10.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg); Chauncey Wiggins (5.4 ppg); Dillon Hunter (2.3 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 79 Dallas Thomas
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: There’s no sugarcoating the losses of Corridor and Girard, who led or tied for the workforce lead in scoring 29 occasions in 36 video games. They have been the center of Clemson’s Elite Eight workforce. But when there may be excellent news, it’s that Hunter — who averaged 17.8 factors, 5.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and a pair of steals per recreation in 4 NCAA Match contests — is again for his sixth season of faculty hoops.
Transferring from third to first on the opposing scouting report isn’t any straightforward soar, however with Hunter and Schieffelin, the ACC’s Most Improved Participant, again, Clemson has a stable ground. These are two of the 5 Tigers with at the least 2,000 D-I minutes, tied for essentially the most within the league. However how will the opposite three — Jaeden Zackery (Boston Faculty), Jake Heidbreder (Air Power), and Myles Foster (Illinois State) — acquit themselves? In all probability properly, however we surprise in the event that they’ll be as impactful and constant because the gamers Clemson misplaced.
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Largest losses: Reece Beekman (14.3 ppg, 6.2 apg); Ryan Dunn (8.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg); Jacob Groves (7.4 ppg); Jordan Minor (4.3 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: Isaac McKneely (12.3 ppg); Andrew Rohde (4.3 ppg); Blake Buchanan (3.4 ppg); Taine Murray (3.3 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 87 Jacob Cofie
Prime 100 transfers added: No. 89 TJ Energy (Duke)
Why they’re right here: With Virginia ranked this low, it’s truthful to have the response: Is Tony Bennett not Virginia’s coach anymore? He’s, and inserting his workforce this low — contemplating the Cavaliers have completed top-three within the league eight occasions previously 10 seasons — feels odd. However whereas UVa leaned into the switch portal extra totally this offseason, it nonetheless feels just like the Cavaliers is perhaps a participant or two brief.
McKneely, a top-50 shooter nationally final season, at the least supplies one assure, a possible all-league participant with expertise in Bennett’s system. Past that? Energy might be Virginia’s greatest hope for a second star, however how he’ll fare defensively is unclear. Elijah Saunders (San Diego State) and Jalen Warley (Florida State) come from defensive-minded packages, so they need to make a direct influence, however neither is an offensive dynamo. There’s a whole lot of projecting match right here, contemplating solely Warley has performed 2,000 profession minutes, and solely McKneely and Rohde — who regarded out of his depth a lot of his first season in Charlottesville — have made 50 profession 3s. Protection shouldn’t be the problem; offense, we’re in wait-and-see mode.
Returning top-8 gamers (by minutes)
Crew | |
---|---|
No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 8 |
|
No. 1, No. 2, No. 5, No. 6, No. 8 |
|
No. 1, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 8 |
|
No. 2, No. 4, No. 5, No. 8 |
|
No. 2, No. 4, No. 6, No. 8 |
|
No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 7 |
|
No. 3, No. 4, No. 7, No. 8 |
|
No. 2, No. 6, No. 7 |
|
No. 2, No. 3, No. 4 |
|
No. 1, No. 4, No. 7 |
|
No. 7, No. 8 |
|
No. 4, No. 6 |
|
No. 2, No. 7 |
|
No. 2, No. 5 |
|
No. 3, No. 7 |
|
No. 7 |
|
No. 8 |
|
None |
10. NC State
Largest losses: DJ Horne (16.9 ppg); DJ Burns (12.9 ppg, 4 rpg); Casey Morsell (11.1 ppg); Mohammed Diarra (6.3 ppg, 7.8 rpg)
Returning rotation gamers: Jayden Taylor (11.2 ppg, 3.6 apg); Ben Middlebrooks (5.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg); Michael O’Connell (5.7 ppg, 3.2 apg); Dennis Parker (4.7 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 56 Paul McNeil
Prime 100 transfers added: No. 50 Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (Louisville)
Why they’re right here: NC State’s epic postseason DJs, Horne and Burns, are each gone, and there’s no replicating the magic these two conjured in March. However Kevin Keatts capitalized on the Wolfpack’s Remaining 4 berth as greatest he may. That began with retention. Keatts introduced again ACC Match hero O’Connell as his full-time level guard, Taylor as his prime shooter and Middlebrooks as his backup massive. Touchdown Huntley-Hatfield — who ought to slide into (a part of) NC State’s Burns-sized gap at middle — was enormous, too, and may permit the Wolfpack to be extra versatile defensively.
Dontrez Kinds (Georgetown) and Mike James (Louisville) put up massive numbers on unhealthy groups, and Marcus Hill (Bowling Inexperienced) was productive however inefficient. How these three regulate — or don’t — to extra clearly outlined roles ought to decide if the Wolfpack could make a 3rd straight NCAA Match.
11. Syracuse
Largest losses: Judah Mintz (18.8 ppg, 4.4 apg); Quadir Copeland (9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg); Maliq Brown (9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg); Justin Taylor (5 ppg, 4 rpg)
Returning rotation gamers: J.J. Starling (13.3 ppg); Chris Bell (12 ppg); Naheem McLeod (3.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 13 Donnie Freeman, No. 99 Elijah Moore
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: Adrian Autry did about in addition to anticipated in his first season: a 20-12 file, plus a top-85 offense and protection, per KenPom’s adjusted effectivity rankings. However that was principally with Jim Boeheim’s outdated gamers. Now, Autry’s fingerprints are throughout his second roster.
Starling and Bell are again as perimeter starters, and Bell — a 41.7 % 3-point shooter final season — should carry the Orange from behind the arc. Freeman ought to snap this system’s NBA Draft dry spell — The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie listed him twelfth on his preliminary 2025 massive board — however hopefully not earlier than making a serious influence as a two-way school ahead. It will not be a shock if he finally ends up being Syracuse’s greatest participant.
Two-time All-CAA wing Jyare Davis (Delaware) needs to be Autry’s most impactful switch, though Eddie Lampkin Jr. (Colorado) supplies measurement the Orange have lacked for a number of seasons. There’s an NCAA Match workforce right here if all the brand new parts take, nevertheless it may additionally take Autry one other yr to get this system the place he desires it.
12. Notre Dame
Largest losses: Carey Sales space (6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg); Matt Zona (2.3 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: Markus Burton (17.5 ppg, 4.3 apg); Braeden Shrewsberry (10.2 ppg); Tae Davis (9.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg); J.R. Konieczny (7.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg); Julian Roper II (5.4 ppg, 4 rpg); Kebba Njie (4.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Logan Imes (2 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 68 Sir Mohammed
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: Improvement is the mantra. The Combating Irish, the sixth-youngest workforce in D-I final season, return seven of their prime eight gamers from Micah Shrewsberry’s debut workforce. That’s essentially the most within the league; no different program returns greater than 5.
Preserving Burton round provides Notre Dame one of many league’s highest-upside backcourts, and each guards ought to enhance after taking their lumps as freshmen. However the Irish have just one participant with 2,000 profession minutes — sharpshooter Matt Allocco (Princeton), the workforce’s prime incoming switch — which is tied for the fewest within the ACC. This system might be nonetheless a yr or two away from being really aggressive, however Shrewsberry is shortly closing the hole.
13. SMU
Largest losses: Zhuric Phelps (14.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Samuell Williamson (8.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg); Tyreek Smith (8.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg); Ricardo Wright (6.7 ppg); Jalen Smith (5.9 ppg); Ja’Heim Hudson (5.4 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: Chuck Harris (13.4 ppg); Keon Ambrose-Hylton (6.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg); B.J. Edwards (3.7 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: None
Prime 100 transfers added: No. 94 Kevin “Boopie” Miller (Wake Forest)
Why they’re right here: Like Louisville, SMU is one other fascinating check of what’s attainable within the span of 1 offseason. The Mustangs have the second-most profession minutes performed of any ACC workforce, the third-most profession 3-pointers, however 4 of their 5 most-experienced gamers arrived as transfers this spring.
Miller and Harris kind an undersized however high-usage backcourt, they usually’ll must be the offensive drivers for Andy Enfield’s first workforce in Dallas. Yohan Traore (UC Santa Barbara) at all times had potential, however can he lastly capitalize on it at his third college in three seasons? There’s sufficient right here to be aggressive, however amid the competitors soar from the American, unwieldy journey logistics, a brand new coach and so many transferring items, it’s tough to think about SMU thriving straight away.
14. California
Largest losses: Jaylon Tyson (19.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Fardaws Aimaq (14.5 ppg, 11 rpg); Jalen Cone (13.4 ppg); Keonte Kennedy (9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Jalen Celestine (8.7 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: None
Prime 100 freshmen added: None
Prime 100 transfers added (2): No. 71 Andrej Stojakovic (Stanford), No. 92 Rytis Petraitis (Air Power)
Why they’re right here: Not that you just’d wish to preserve everybody from a 13-19 workforce, however dropping your prime seven gamers isn’t best. That made including two prime 100 transfers — which one way or the other ties for the second-most within the ACC — vital.
Stojakovic is the largest identify right here, given his bloodline and highschool pedigree, however he was hit-or-miss as a freshman, making simply 32.7 % of his 3s. Petraitis is simply as fascinating, although, having performed largely as a small-ball middle regardless of being solely 6-foot-7 and 210 kilos. He’s a inventive passer, and we are able to already image him discovering All-Summit ahead B.J. Omot (North Dakota) on backdoor cuts. The general expertise degree isn’t at an ACC degree, however Mark Madsen is a brilliant coach. We doubt Cal simply rolls over.
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15. Virginia Tech
Largest losses: Sean Pedulla (16.4 ppg, 4.6 apg, 4.3 rpg); Hunter Cattoor (13.5 ppg); Lynn Kidd (13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Tyler Nickel (8.8 ppg); MJ Collins (7.4 ppg); Robbie Beran (5.6 ppg); Mekhi Lengthy (3.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg)
Returning rotation gamers: Mylyjael Poteat (6.4 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 80 Ryan Jones Jr.
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: It was not a enjoyable offseason for Virginia Tech. The Hokies misplaced seven of their prime eight gamers — together with all 5 starters and their sixth man — from a 19-15 squad that would’ve been aggressive had it stayed collectively. VT has one participant with over 2,000 profession minutes, Hysier Miller (Temple), and whereas he’s a succesful pick-and-roll guard, his inefficiency might be one thing Mike Younger has to handle. In any other case, it’s a whole lot of younger lottery tickets for Younger, who should hope for one or two hits. Jaden Schutt (Duke) could possibly be a sneaky identify to look at, filling the off-ball capturing position lengthy occupied by Cattoor, however Younger should get inventive offensively for this workforce to stay aggressive.
16. Boston Faculty
Largest losses: Quinten Publish (17 ppg, 8.1 rpg); Claudell Harris Jr. (13.7 ppg); Jaeden Zackery (11.3 ppg, 4.2 apg); Devin McGlockton (10.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg); Mason Madsen (8.1 ppg)
Returning rotation gamers: Donald Hand Jr. (5 ppg); Chas Kelley III (3.7 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: None
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: Earl Grant steadily constructed BC right into a 20-win workforce final season, incomes this system’s greatest KenPom end since 2011, just for his prime six gamers to go away, setting the Eagles again to sq. one. With no incoming prime 100 freshmen or transfers, Grant needed to piece collectively a roster that’s laborious to be too enthusiastic about. Dion Brown (UMBC) is an intriguing younger pickup who Grant ought to largely give the keys to, and Chad Venning (St. Bonaventure) has the scale to bang with ACC bigs, however that isn’t sufficient to proceed the momentum Grant was constructing.
17. Stanford
Largest losses: Brandon Angel (13 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Spencer Jones (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg); Kanaan Carlyle (11.5 ppg); Michael Jones (10.8 ppg); Andrej Stojakovic (7.8 ppg); Jared Bynum (6.9 ppg, 5.2 apg)
Returning rotation gamers: Maxime Raynaud (15.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg); Benny Gealer (4.2 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: None
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: Getting Raynaud, the Pac-12’s Most Improved Participant, again was crucial for brand new coach Kyle Smith. Raynaud is the one participant on the roster with greater than 1,400 profession minutes, and one among solely two with greater than 800, becoming a member of Chisom Okpara (Harvard). Stanford’s younger squad additionally will most likely battle to shoot it; the Cardinal are the one ACC workforce with no single participant who has made at the least 50 profession 3-pointers. Unsurprisingly, Stanford as a workforce additionally has the second-fewest profession made 3s, with little assistance on the best way. Rebuilds have to start out someplace, and Smith has flipped a program earlier than, nevertheless it’s going to take time.
18. Florida State
Largest losses: Darin Inexperienced Jr. (11.3 ppg); Primo Spears (10.6 ppg); Cameron Corhen (9.4 ppg); Baba Miller (7.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg); Jalen Warley (7.5 ppg); Cam’Ron Fletcher (6.7 ppg, 5 rpg)
Returning rotation gamers: Jamir Watkins (15.6 ppg, 6 rpg); Chandler Jackson (4.9 ppg); Taylor Bol Bowen (3.1 ppg)
Prime 100 freshmen added: No. 84 Alier Maluk
Prime 100 transfers added: None
Why they’re right here: Two misplaced seasons in a row for FSU, and a 3rd appears virtually inevitable. Leonard Hamilton misplaced six of his prime eight gamers this offseason, and their switch portal replacements aren’t the identical caliber. Watkins is an amazing participant, however there will not be anybody within the ACC who has to do extra for his workforce subsequent season than he’ll. Not solely is Watkins FSU’s solely participant with over 2,000 profession minutes, however he’s additionally the one of the Seminoles with at the least 50 made 3s — which is a big a part of why Hamilton’s workforce is final within the ACC in profession 3s. Hamilton is a superb coach, one of the vital underappreciated within the sport, nevertheless it’ll take his greatest teaching job to get this model of FSU to even the center of the league standings.
(Picture of Tyrese Proctor: Lance King / Getty Photos)