By: StLouHoo
I’m excited to be working with Cuts from The Corner this season. Kicking off our collaboration, we’re doing deep dives on every ACC men’s basketball roster’s changes this offseason. As I’ve done in past years at Hoos Place, we’ll track the outbounds, returners, and additions, and give thoughts on each team’s lineup for the upcoming season and their place in the league. With now a whopping *18* teams in the ACC, we’ll break it up into six teams at a time, moving through alphabetically. Once all 18 are up, we’ll come full circle with an initial Power Ranking to rack and stack the new-look league.
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| Player | 2023-2024 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Jaeden Zackery (Transferred to Clemson) | 36 G, 33.8 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 41% 3P% |
| G Claudell Harris (Transferred to Mississippi State) | 35 G, 31.5 mpg, 13.7 ppg, 2.1 apg, 37% 3P% | |
| G/F Mason Madsen (Transferred to Utah) | 36 G, 22.8 mpg, 8.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 38% 3P% | |
| F Prince Aligbe (Transferred to Seton Hall) | 35 G, 18.6 mpg, 4.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 15% 3P% | |
| PF Devin McGlockton (Transferred to Vanderbilt) | 36 G, 29.9 mpg, 10.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 58% FG% | |
| F/C Armani Mighty (Transferred to Buffalo) | 35 G, 5.6 mpg, 0.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 41% FG% | |
| C Quinten Post (Graduated) | 35 G, 31.9 mpg, 17 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 51% FG% | |
| Returners | PG Fred Payne (SO) | 5 G, 5 mpg, 1.6 ppg, 0.6 apg, 0% 3P% |
| SF Donald Hand (RS SO) | 34 G, 14.4 mpg, 5 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| SF Chas Kelley (JR) | 27 G, 15.5 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 25% 3P% | |
| PF Elijah Strong (SO) | 19 G, 6.8 mpg, 2.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 53% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Luka Toews (3-star FR) | |
| G Dion Brown (SO Transfer, UMBC) | 32 G, 32.2 mpg, 19 ppg, 2.6 apg, 35% 3P% | |
| G Nick Petronio (3-star FR) | ||
| SG Joshua Beadle (JR Transfer, Clemson) | 32 G, 10.8 mpg, 3 ppg, 0.8 apg, 14% 3P% | |
| G/F Roger McFarlane (SR+ Transfer, SE Louisiana) | 32 G, 35.2 mpg, 14.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| F/C Jayden Hastings (3-star RS FR) | ||
| F/C Kany Tchanda (3-star FR) | ||
| C Chad Venning (SR+ Transfer, Saint Bonaventure) | 33 G, 24.1 mpg, 13.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 53% FG% |
The Eagles lack any returners with either 20 mpg played or more than 5 ppg scored last year, which isn’t great for a program that likely is going to need year-over-year continuity in its roster building to ascend.
Earl Grant, quietly entering his 4th year in Chestnut Hill, did get the Eagles to the NIT last year, where they scored a win over Providence and hit the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2010-11 season. But that programmatic forward momentum took a big hit when five rotation players hit the transfer portal, perhaps signaling issues behind the scenes.
In the backcourt, UMBC transfer Dion Brown likely takes the lead up top with returners Donald Hand, JR and Chas Kelley competing with inbound transfers Josh Beadle and Roger McFarlane to build out the depth chart on the wing. The front court has a ton of question marks, with St Bonaventure transfer Chad Venning the only solid-looking big man available to replace Quinten Post and Devin McGlockton. Boston College likely goes full 4-out with Donald Hand as a small-ball 4.
The hard truth is that this roster looks like a step back from last year’s semi-breakthrough. There’s a couple guys with potential, but it’s hard to see Grant pulling it all together to even challenge for the league’s middle tier again this year.
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| Player | 2023-2024 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Jalen Cone (Graduated) | 32 G, 35.6 mpg, 13.4 ppg, 2.3 apg, 32% 3P% |
| PG Devin Askew (Transferred to Long Beach State) | 6 G, 24.3 mpg, 6.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 14% 3P% | |
| SF Keonte Kennedy (Graduated) | 25 G, 31.3 mpg, 9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 31% 3P% | |
| SF Rodney Brown (Transferred to Virginia Tech) | 32 G, 14.2 mpg, 3.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 40% 3P% | |
| F Jaylon Tyson (Turned Pro) | 31 G, 34.3 mpg, 19.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 36% 3P% | |
| F Jalen Celestine (Transferred to Baylor) | 27 G, 26.9 mpg, 8.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 44% 3P% | |
| F Monty Bowser (Transferred to North Arizona) | 10 G, 11.2 mpg, 0.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 17% 3P% | |
| PF Grant Newell (Transferred to North Texas) | 32 G, 21.3 mpg, 5.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 41% FG% | |
| F/C ND Okafor (Transferred to Washington State) | 9 G, 7.8 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 39% FG% | |
| C Fardaws Aimaq (Graduated) | 32 G, 32.1 mpg, 14.5 ppg, 11 rpg, 46% FG% | |
| Returners | G Vladimir Pavlovic (SO) | 7 G, 6.1 mpg, 0.9 ppg, 0.3 apg, 0% 3P% |
| F/C Gus Larson (RS JR) | 28 G, 7 mpg, 1.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| C Devin Curtis (SO) | 16 G, 5.4 mpg, 0.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 50% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Jovan Blacksher (SR+ Transfer, Grand Canyon) | 26 G, 15.3 mpg, 4.8 ppg, 1.5 apg, 42% 3P% |
| PG Christian Tucker (SR Transfer, UTSA) | 32 G, 33.5 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 5.4 apg, 30% 3P% | |
| G Jeremiah Wilkinson (3-star FR) | ||
| SG DJ Campbell (JR Transfer, Western Carolina) | 32 G, 29.5 mpg, 11.6 ppg, 1.5 apg, 41% 3P% | |
| F Rytis Petraitis (JR Transfer, Air Force) | 24 G, 32.9 mpg, 15.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 35% 3P% | |
| F Andrej Stojakovic (SO Transfer, Stanford) | 32 G, 22.3 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 33% 3P% | |
| F Joshua Ola-Joseph (JR Transfer, Minnesota) | 29 G, 15.7 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 41% 3P% | |
| F B.J. Omot (JR Transfer, North Dakota) | 32 G, 35.2 mpg, 16.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 28% 3P% | |
| PF Spencer Mahoney (3-star RS FR) | ||
| C Lee Dort (RS SO Transfer, Vanderbilt) | 1 G, 7 mpg, 1 ppg, 2 rpg, 0% FG% | |
| F/C Mady Sissoko (SR+ Transfer, Michigan State) | 35 G, 15.2 mpg, 3.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 57% FG% |
California joins the ACC on the heels of a rough 7-year stretch as a general afterthought in the Pac-12. Since Cuonzo Martin left after the 2016-17 season, the Bears haven’t had a single winning season, either overall or in-conference, bottoming out with a 3-29 performance in 2022-23 that got Mark Fox fired. Mark Madsen took the helm last summer after a quick but successful four-year stint at Utah Valley where he won WAC Coach of the Year and took the Wolverines to the NIT Semifinals at MSG in 2023. In his first season at Cal, the Bears posted their best conference record in 7 years, so the early returns were positive.
That said, few Power Conference rosters will have as much roster turnover as Cal this offseason with every key rotation player gone. Madsen is bringing in nine transfers to do the heavy lifting for this upcoming season.
UTSA transfer Christian Tucker will likely run the point for his final collegiate season after finishing 2nd in the AAC last year in assists. Volume scorers Jovan Blacksher from Grand Canyon and DJ Campbell from Western Carolina will round out the guard spots. None were regarded as top-tier transfer prospects, all three ranked outside EvanMiya’s Top 350. Madsen will have to hope that their veteran presence provides value on both ends. Blacksher could at least be intriguing as last season at GCU he was working back from a torn ACL and this year will have the benefit of a full offseason.
It’s at the forward spots where Cal’s transfer haul starts getting intriguing. Rytis Petraitis was an all-MWC (3rd Team) performer at Air Force. Andrej Stojakovic was a Top 50 recruit a year and held his own as a true freshman in the Pac-12. Joshua Ola-Joseph was a highly efficient bench piece on a mid-tier B1G team. BJ Omot was first team all-Summit League as a 2nd year. These four are highly interchangeable 3/4 scorers and defenders and will provide Cal with a lot of versatility.
At the center spot, Cal will look to get a 5th year jump out of Michigan State backup big man Mady Sissoko, a former Top 50 prospect, with backup contributions from another former 4-star in Lee Dort who had his two years at Vanderbilt largely derailed by stress fracture problems. Returner Gus Larsen will likely factor into the 5-spot rotation as well.
Cal did enough this offseason to at least make things interesting. It’s doubtful they’ll be a top tier team in the league, but there’s enough talent and depth to hang with most of the league on any given night, especially if east coast teams struggle with jet lag on their west coast swings. Madsen showed well enough in his first season with the Bears after a strong run at Utah Valley, so I’d go out on a limb here and say the Bears end up surprising the old ACC a bit and end up a mid-tier team in the conference. An NCAA Tournament bid is maybe a questionable proposition, but there’s the potential to make a Bubble run if all the new faces gel quickly, especially if they show well in their respectable non-conference against the likes of USC, Mizzou, and San Diego State.
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| Player | 2023-2024 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | G Joseph Girard (Graduated) | 36 G, 32.8 mpg, 15.1 ppg, 2.9 apg, 41% 3P% |
| G Alex Hemenway (Transferred to Vanderbilt) | 5 G, 15.6 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 1.4 apg, 42% 3P% | |
| SG Joshua Beadle (Transferred to Boston College) | 32 G, 10.8 mpg, 3 ppg, 0.8 apg, 14% 3P% | |
| F Jack Clark (Transferred to VCU) | 25 G, 23.5 mpg, 4.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 30% 3P% | |
| PF RJ Godfrey (Transferred to Georgia) | 36 G, 15.5 mpg, 6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 59% FG% | |
| C PJ Hall (Turned Pro) | 36 G, 28.9 mpg, 18.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 49% FG% | |
| C Bas Leyte (Graduated) | 20 G, 4.6 mpg, 0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 55% FG% | |
| Returners | G Chase Hunter (SR+) | 36 G, 32.8 mpg, 12.9 ppg, 3.2 apg, 31% 3P% |
| SG Dillon Hunter (JR) | 36 G, 14.7 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 1.3 apg, 26% 3P% | |
| PF Ian Schieffelin (SR) | 36 G, 27.5 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 56% FG% | |
| PF Chauncey Wiggins (JR) | 36 G, 17.8 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Jaeden Zackery (SR+ Transfer, Boston College) | 36 G, 33.8 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 41% 3P% |
| PG Del Jones (3-star FR) | ||
| G Ace Buckner (3-star FR) | ||
| SF Jake Heidbreder (RS JR Transfer, Air Force [in 2022-23]) | 32 G, 32.4 mpg, 15.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 40% 3P% | |
| F Dallas Thomas (3-star FR) | ||
| F Asa Thomas (3-star RS FR) | ||
| PF Myles Foster (JR Transfer, Illinois State) | 32 G, 28.5 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 53% FG% | |
| C Christian Reeves (RS SO Transfer, Duke) | 3 G, 5.3 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 67% FG% | |
| C Viktor Lakhin (RS SR Transfer, Cincinatti) | 29 G, 21.7 mpg, 9.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 50% FG% |
Brad Brownell enters his 15th season as head coach fresh off Clemson’s impressive Elite Eight run, having quietly become one of the league’s more consistent programs. The Tigers have a couple of key starters to replace this offseason but still have a lot of reasons for optimism.
Boston College transfer Jaeden Zackery arrives to slot into the graduated Joe Girard’s spot alongside returning 5th year Chase Hunter. While lacking next-level upside, these two have a combined 190 starts at the ACC level and should be as dependable a back court as Brownell could ask for. The backup guard situation is a bit thin, though. The younger Hunter brother Dillon thus far struggling with consistency at the ACC level and otherwise the Tigers have just a pair of 3-star guard recruits in Ace Buckner and Del Jones (rated #138 and #161 respectively by 247sports.com) to work with. Clemson has had success developing lower-rated guards in the past, but hard to predict if they’ll make Year 1 impacts. A lot may ride on Chase and Zackery both being consistently able to give 35 minutes per game.
The forward spots are a bit unsettled at this juncture. Former all-MWC 3rd-Teamer Jake Heidbreder comes off a redshirt year looking to seize the role as a scoring specialist. If he struggles, expect Clemson to go jumbo with their 3-4 pairings with incumbent Chauncey Wiggins and glue-guy transfer Myles Foster (known as one of the MVC’s best rebounders and shot blockers) pairing with the proven Ian Schieffelin. 3-star freshmen Dallas Thomas and Asa Thomas (no relation) will likely work in slowly behind these veterans. This frontcourt could be one of the best defensively and on the glass in the conference.
Cincinnati 5th year transfer Viktor Lahkin will try and fill PJ Hall’s shoes at the 5 spot. He lacks some of Hall’s upside, and isn’t the same stretch threat, but still has a very high floor as an established starter in the Big XII. Duke reserve big man Christian Reeves will hope to grab the backup center spot, though I’d expect to see a lot of 2-PF lineups when Lahkin is out to take advantage of Clemson’s depth and experience at their forward spots.
This Clemson team will miss the all-ACC-quality contributions from Girard and Hall, but if Zackery and Chase Hunter can handle heavy season-long loads at the guard spots, the Tigers’ front court should carry them to another top-half ACC finish and shot at the NCAA Tournament.
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| Player | 2023-2024 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Jeremy Roach (Transferred to Baylor) | 35 G, 32.7 mpg, 14 ppg, 3.3 apg, 43% 3P% |
| G Jared McCain (Turned Pro) | 36 G, 31.6 mpg, 14.3 ppg, 1.9 apg, 41% 3P% | |
| G Jaylen Blakes (Transferred to Stanford) | 31 G, 9.2 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 0.4 apg, 26% 3P% | |
| F TJ Power (Transferred to Virginia) | 26 G, 7 mpg, 2.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 36% 3P% | |
| PF Mark Mitchell (Transferred to Missouri) | 33 G, 28.6 mpg, 11.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 54% FG% | |
| PF Sean Stewart (Transferred to Ohio State) | 33 G, 8.3 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 57% FG% | |
| F/C Kyle Filipowski (Turned Pro) | 36 G, 30.4 mpg, 16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 51% FG% | |
| C Ryan Young (Graduated) | 36 G, 11.8 mpg, 2.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 58% FG% | |
| C Christian Reeves (Transferred to Clemson) | 3 G, 5.3 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 67% FG% | |
| Returners | SG Tyrese Proctor (JR) | 32 G, 30.4 mpg, 10.5 ppg, 3.7 apg, 35% 3P% |
| SG Caleb Foster (SO) | 27 G, 25.4 mpg, 7.7 ppg, 2.1 apg, 41% 3P% | |
| Additions | G Sion James (SR+ Transfer, Tulane) | 31 G, 36.7 mpg, 14 ppg, 2.7 apg, 38% 3P% |
| G/F Kon Knueppel (5-star FR) | ||
| SF Isaiah Evans (5-star FR) | ||
| SF Darrin Harris (4-star FR) | ||
| F Cameron Sheffield (RS SR Transfer, Rice) | 35 G, 30.9 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 37% 3P% | |
| F Mason Gillis (SR+ Transfer, Purdue) | 39 G, 21.1 mpg, 6.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 47% 3P% | |
| F Cooper Flagg (5-star FR) | ||
| PF Maliq Brown (JR Transfer, Syracuse) | 32 G, 29.6 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 70% FG% | |
| C Khaman Maluach (5-star FR) | ||
| C Patrick Ngongba (4-star FR) |
Year three of the Jon Scheyer experiment at Duke sees a number of former Top 25 recruits leave via the transfer portal, many arguably pushed out to make room for the newest crop of incoming HS 5-stars. The Blue Devils hung around the Top 10-15 for much of last season and made a solid Elite Eight run, but pressure will be on the program this year to either make a Final Four run or at a minimum dominate in conference play with the caliber of prospects on hand.
While Duke only returns two players, they at least are two high-usage guards, and we all recognize the value in having program veterans at the guard spots. Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster are well rounded and versatile scorers and facilitators, each with a 6’5″ frame that enables them to play any spot 1-3.
Joining them are a quartet of promising guard/wing options. Tulane transfer Sion James has a well-earned reputation as a defensive stopper, posting “stock” numbers (steals + blocks) in the AAC the last two years on par with Reece Beekman’s. And five-star wings Kon Knueppel and Isaiah Evans both have one-and-done potential as high-end scorers. Four-star Darrin Harris may be the odd man out of the rotation, but will provide depth that gives the Devils a lot of versatility on the perimeter.
The front court sees a quality mix of high-floor veterans and high-ceiling one-and-dones. Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown can play either post spot and has the energy and toughness to set the tone defensively and control the glass. Mason Gillis, fresh off a Final Four run at Purdue, can stretch the floor and will provide a stabilizing presence. Cooper Flagg may be the most sure-thing ready freshman at Duke since Zion Williamson, having held his own this summer as the lone collegian working out with the senior Team USA squad prior to the Olympics, cementing himself as the consensus #1 projected pick in the ’25 Draft. And 7’2″ NBA Global Academy graduate Khaman Maluach is a near-consensus Lottery prospect for next year; scouts admit he’s more potential than finished product at this point, but he’ll have the luxury at Duke of working in as a reserve behind the more polished veterans.
Duke, with this roster loaded with a combination of proven high-major talents and up to four one-and-done blue-chips, is an easy choice to project as a Top 10 team nationally next year, and unsurprisingly the media’s preseason ACC favorite. That will, of course, put a target on their back, as this is undeniably a Final Four-or-bust kind of season for Scheyer. That said, while they may falter somewhat as they integrate 10 new faces, doing their usual recent schtick of suffering just enough upsets to finish 2nd or 3rd in the league, it’s hard to pick a specific ACC team right now that’s better than them, leaving them as the favorites by default.
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| Player | 2023-2024 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Primo Spears (Transferred to UTSA) | 24 G, 22.7 mpg, 10.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, 27% 3P% |
| G Jalen Warley (Transferred to Virginia) | 33 G, 24.1 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 14% 3P% | |
| SG Darin Green (Graduated) | 32 G, 30 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 1 apg, 38% 3P% | |
| SG Josh Nickelberry (Graduated) | 32 G, 9.3 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 0.2 apg, 26% 3P% | |
| SF Cam’Ron Fletcher (Transferred to Xavier) | 7 G, 15.9 mpg, 6.7 ppg, 5 rpg, 29% 3P% | |
| F Tom House (Transferred to Furman) | 23 G, 3.7 mpg, 1.4 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 47% 3P% | |
| PF Baba Miller (Transferred to FAU) | 33 G, 24.8 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 45% FG% | |
| PF Jaylan Gainey (Graduated) | 28 G, 10.6 mpg, 2.8 ppg, 2 rpg, 63% FG% | |
| F/C Cameron Corhen (Transferred to Pittsburgh) | 28 G, 21.3 mpg, 9.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 63% FG% | |
| F/C De’Ante Green (Transferred to South Florida) | 31 G, 11.9 mpg, 4.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 51% FG% | |
| Returners | G/F Chandler Jackson (JR) | 31 G, 14.6 mpg, 4.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 29% 3P% |
| F Jamir Watkins (SR) | 33 G, 28.1 mpg, 15.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| PF Taylor Bol Bowen (SO) | 31 G, 10.9 mpg, 3.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 46% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Daquan Davis (4-star FR) | |
| G/F AJ Swinton (3-star FR) | ||
| SF Bostyn Holt (SR+ Transfer, South Dakota) | 32 G, 31.3 mpg, 12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 39% 3P% | |
| PF Alier Maluk (3-star FR) | ||
| PF Christian Nitu (3-star FR) | ||
| PF Jerry Deng (SO Transfer, Hampton) | 33 G, 21.9 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 46% FG% | |
| F/C Malique Ewin (JR Transfer, JUCO) |
Plenty of ACC teams this year had a tough offseason, with lots of roster turnover and last-minute spots to fill. But FSU is unique in that it’s still trying to build out the ability to play 5-on-5 in practice in late July. That FSU hasn’t yet officially updated their website’s roster to 2024-25 is telling.
Few non-Nole fans have been a bigger Leonard Hamilton booster than me, but following a frustrating 17-16 (10-10) season, I do have to wonder why six key rotation players chose to transfer out, when many were in line for big roles this year and FSU would’ve benefitted from their continuity. But equally problematic for FUS was their struggle to backfill the exodus.
At the point, the ball is basically by default being given to Top 100 freshman Daquan Davis, maybe the only true guard on the roster at this point. Joining him in the backcourt rotation with will be promoting scoring guard Chandler Jackson who will need to make a big leap in contributions as an upperclassman. 3-star rookie wing AJ Swinton and/or Greek rookie Anastasios Rozakeas, a late summer addition, will likely be pushed into meaningful action in reserve.
If FSU is going to do much this year, it’s at the forward spots that they’ll need to make hay. Jamir Watkins is the only ACC-level proven star they’ve got on this year’s roster, the former VCU Ram and last year’s leading scorer capable of playing either the 3 or the 4. They’ll look to a pair of low-major transfers to be ready for the jump in competition level in South Dakota’s Bostyn Holt and Hampton’s Jerry Deng, though neither crack the Top 750 in EvanMiya’s transfer portal rankings. A few rookie forwards are available though their immediate readiness is a big question: Alier Maluk was a last-minute reclassification from the 2025 class, and Christian Nitu is ranked outside 247’s Top 200.
National #1 JuCo prospect 6’10″ Malique Ewin will inherit the center spot, actually an intriguing prospect for the Noles who started his career as a 4-star recruit at Ole Miss, with Deng dropping down to the 5 when Ewin sits. There’s no real insurance here, though, aside from the rookies if these guys miss any time.
Long story short, this currently looks like a very painful year in Tallahassee, one that could foreshadow the end of Hamilton’s career. They’ll steal a few games here and there, but I’m not sure there’s another team in the ACC they finish ahead of.
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| Player | 2023-2024 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | G Kyle Sturdivant (Graduated) | 32 G, 20.7 mpg, 8.8 ppg, 2.8 apg, 39% 3P% |
| G/F Miles Kelly (Transferred to Auburn) | 32 G, 31.8 mpg, 13.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 32% 3P% | |
| G/F Amaree Abram (Transferred to Louisiana Tech) | 10 G, 10.8 mpg, 3.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 20% 3P% | |
| G/F Carter Murphy (Graduated) | 14 G, 7.8 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 37% 3P% | |
| SF Dallan Coleman (Transferred to UCF) | 28 G, 18.6 mpg, 5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| F Ibrahima Sacko (Transferred to New Mexico) | 20 G, 11.4 mpg, 2.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 29% 3P% | |
| PF Tafara Gapare (Transferred to Maryland) | 29 G, 18.2 mpg, 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 35% FG% | |
| F/C Tyzhaun Claude (Transferred to UNC) | 32 G, 17.4 mpg, 4.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 50% FG% | |
| C Ebenezer Dowuona (Transferred to James Madison) | 18 G, 9.6 mpg, 1 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 43% FG% | |
| Returners | G Naithan George (SO) | 29 G, 29.8 mpg, 9.8 ppg, 4.7 apg, 31% 3P% |
| G Lance Terry (SR+) | 29 G, 29.6 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 1.2 apg, 39% 3P% | |
| SF Kowacie Reeves (SR) | 32 G, 28.8 mpg, 9.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 38% 3P% | |
| F/C Baye Ndongo (SO) | 29 G, 27.8 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 56% FG% | |
| Additions | G Javian McCollum (SR Transfer, Oklahoma) | 30 G, 31.1 mpg, 13.3 ppg, 3.4 apg, 31% 3P% |
| SG Jaeden Mustaf (4-star FR) | ||
| F Luke O’Brien (SR+ Transfer, Colorado) | 35 G, 23.6 mpg, 6.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 38% 3P% | |
| PF Darrion Sutton (4-star FR) | ||
| PF Ibrahim Souare (3-star RS FR) | ||
| PF Duncan Powell (RS JR Transfer, Sacramento State) | 29 G, 26.5 mpg, 12.1 ppg, 7 rpg, 49% FG% | |
| F/C Doryan Onwuchekwa (3-star FR) | ||
| C Ryan Mutombo (SR Transfer, Georgetown) | 15 G, 3.7 mpg, 0.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 38% FG% |
While a quick look at last season’s record for the Yellow Jackets looks disappointing, going just 14-18 (7-13) and getting knocked out of the ACCT in their first game by Notre Dame, there actually were a few reasons for optimism in Damon Stoudamire’s first season as head coach in Atlanta. Obviously seeing seven transfers out is some cause for concern, though aside from volume scorer Miles Kelly and maybe athletic but inefficient forward Tafara Gapare, most of these losses were probably in Stoudamire’s long term best interest as he looks to improve the Jackets’ talent level.
Georgia Tech will lean on last year’s rookie breakout PG Naithan George, robbed of a spot on the league’s all-freshman team after finishing 2nd in the ACC in assists per game (behind only Reece Beekman of course). George may be asked to pick up his shooting a bit to keep defenses honest, but I still expect him to be pass-first again this year. Quality transfer Javian McCollum will likely take over Miles Kelly’s role as ball-dominant scoring threat after a solid debut season in the Big XII (he spent his first two years at Siena). The Jackets will get a boost from the return of plus-shooting guard Lance Terry, who missed last season with a calf injury, as well as Top 75 recruit Jaeden Mustaf, giving GT a quality depth chart at the guard spots.
Former Florida transfer Kowacie Reeves returns to start at small forward ready to become a more dominant scoring threat in his final season of eligibility. In competition for the rest of the forward rotation spots will be5th year forward Luke O’Brien from Colorado, Top 100 recruit Darrion Sutton, redshirted freshman Ibrahim Souare, and Sacramento State power forward Duncan Powell. It’s uncertain who the breakouts here will be, but at a bare minimum there’s a solid set of options for Stoudamire to work with.
All-ACC Freshman team big man Baye Ndongo is ready to take another step forward this year at the 5-spot, maybe the ACC’s best incumbent center. Georgia Tech will hope one of Georgetown transfer Ryan Mutombo or 3-star Doryan Onwuchekwa can surprise as backup; as of right now, that looks like a question mark.
At the end of the day, the combination of George up top and Ndongo at the 5-spot has the potential to follow a similar career arc of Jose Alvarado and Moses Wright. Obviously they’re still in the first half of that progression, but with some quality talent upgrades both at other starting spots as well as off the bench, this should absolutely be a year we look to Stoudamire to improve GT’s results, with a .500 league finish and NIT bid being a quality target for the season.
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That’s it for Part 1. Check back in a few days for Part 2 (of 3)!
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