By: StLouHoo
Alright, here’s the third and final installment of the ACC preview!
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| Player | 2023-24 Stat Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | G Zhuric Phelps (Transferred to Texas A&M) | 33 G, 29.2 mpg, 14.8 ppg, 2.7 apg, 22% 3P% |
| SG Ricardo Wright (Transferred to Kennesaw State) | 32 G, 14.5 mpg, 6.7 ppg, 0.8 apg, 37% 3P% | |
| SG Jalen Smith (Transferred to Rice) | 33 G, 21.5 mpg, 5.9 ppg, 1.7 apg, 38% 3P% | |
| SG Emory Lanier (Transferred to Rice) | 33 G, 10.2 mpg, 3.8 ppg, 0.6 apg, 38% 3P% | |
| F Samuell Williamson (Graduated) | 33 G, 23.6 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 24% 3P% | |
| PF Tyreek Smith (Transferred to Memphis) | 33 G, 19.2 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 58% FG% | |
| PF Ja’Heim Hudson (Transferred to Auburn) | 31 G, 15.2 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 43% FG% | |
| Returners | PG Chuck Harris (SR+) | 32 G, 29.8 mpg, 13.4 ppg, 3.4 apg, 41% 3P% |
| SG B.J. Edwards (JR) | 33 G, 18.5 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 2.9 apg, 39% 3P% | |
| PF Keon Ambrose-Hylton (SR+) | 33 G, 19.2 mpg, 6.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 64% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Kevin Miller (SR Transfer, Wake Forest) | 35 G, 32 mpg, 15.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 37% 3P% |
| SG Kario Oquendo (SR+ Transfer, Oregon) | 36 G, 17.7 mpg, 7.2 ppg, 1 apg, 33% 3P% | |
| SF AJ George (JR Transfer, Long Beach State) | 36 G, 28.1 mpg, 10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| F Chance Puryear (3-star FR) | ||
| PF Matt Cross (SR+ Transfer, UMass) | 28 G, 30.1 mpg, 15.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 54% FG% | |
| PF Tibet Gorener (SR+ Transfer, San Jose State) | 32 G, 33.4 mpg, 11.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 40% FG% | |
| F/C Jerrell Colbert (RS JR Transfer, Kansas State) | 31 G, 11.3 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 48% FG% | |
| F/C Yohan Traore (JR Transfer, UC Santa Barbara) | 30 G, 28.8 mpg, 14.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 58% FG% | |
| F/C Mitchell Holmes (3-star FR) | ||
| C Samet Yigitoglu (4-star FR) |
SMU’s administration made a bold decision corresponding with the move to the ACC by deciding to fire incumbent coach Rob Lanier after he led the Mustangs to a successful 20-13 (11-7) record in just his 2nd year in Dallas. Lanier landed on his feet at Rice (along with a couple of his players), but this allowed SMU to make a “splash” hire in stealing Andy Enfield from Southern Cal. Enfield, who some may remember as the head coach of Florida Gulf Coast’s “Dunk City” Sweet 16 squad a decade ago, did find some success in the Pac-12> However after peaking with an Elite 8 run in 2021, a couple years of slow backsliding led to a losing season and he sought greener pastures in Texas.
Enfield’s first win was keeping rising 5th year point guard Chuck Harris on the Mustangs; the incumbent starter is a well-rounded scorer, floor spacer, and distributor, and will provide SMU with the on-court leadership it needs. Wake Forest star guard Kevin Miller will slot in beside him, creating some question of how well they’ll share the ball, but Harris at 6’4″ is big enough to play at the 2-spot. Oregon transfer Kario Oquendo, Long Beach State inbound wing AJ George, and the returning shooting guard BJ Edwards round out an adequately deep and diverse back court rotation that should more than hold its own in the ACC.
Enfield will have a few choices to work with at the 4- and 5-spots. Keon Ambrose-Hylton improved steadily the last two years at SMU, starting 20 games a year ago, and will have a big role whether starting or off the bench. The well-traveled Matt Cross (Miami, Louisville, UMass) plays his last year back in the ACC after finishing last year as an All-A-10 First Teamer. Also joining the front court competition are transfers from San Jose State (5th year Tibet Gorener), Kansas State (role player Jerrell Colbert) and UCSB (former 5-star Auburn commit Yohan Traore). Traore especially seems primed to break out as one of the league’s better centers as the French prospect thrived in an expanded role in the Big West last year.
It’s not an elite roster, but it’s definitely the best of the three programs joining the ACC, with a good distribution of talent and experience (six seniors projected in the rotation). On paper, the Mustangs have no obvious weak spots, even looking at their bench, so their potential really comes down to Enfield’s ability to coach them up. He did need a few years at USC to get things going (winning only 5 combined Pac-12 games his first two years), but this time around the Portal and NIL (SMU is well funded) have allowed him to stock the roster with ACC-level talent seemingly overnight. I’d still expect some inconsistencies over the course of the year, but on the whole I’m high on SMU to be the lone newcomer to really crash the party and finish as one of the league’s stronger teams.
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| Player | 2023-24 Stat Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Jared Bynum (Graduated) | 18 G, 23.7 mpg, 6.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, 33% 3P% |
| G Kanaan Carlyle (Transferred to Indiana) | 23 G, 25.7 mpg, 11.5 ppg, 2.7 apg, 32% 3P% | |
| G/F Michael Jones (Graduated) | 32 G, 30.5 mpg, 10.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 42% 3P% | |
| F Andrej Stojakovic (Transferred to California) | 32 G, 22.3 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 33% 3P% | |
| PF Brandon Angel (Transferred to Oregon) | 30 G, 31.2 mpg, 13 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 57% FG% | |
| PF Spencer Jones (Graduated) | 25 G, 29.1 mpg, 11.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| PF Max Murrell (Transferred to UC Santa Barbara) | 17 G, 14.7 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 37% FG% | |
| F/C James Keefe (Graduated) | 31 G, 9.8 mpg, 2.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 54% FG% | |
| Returners | G Benny Gealer (JR) | 32 G, 17.9 mpg, 4.2 ppg, 2.3 apg, 33% 3P% |
| SF Ryan Agarwal (JR) | 5 G, 10.4 mpg, 2.4 ppg, 0.4 rpg, 9% 3P% | |
| PF Jaylen Thompson (RS SO) | 5 G, 1.6 mpg, 1 ppg, 0 rpg, 100% FG% | |
| C Maxime Raynaud (SR) | 32 G, 29.1 mpg, 15.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 57% FG% | |
| Additions | G Jaylen Blakes (SR Transfer, Duke) | 31 G, 9.2 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 0.4 apg, 26% 3P% |
| SG Anthony Batson (3-star FR) | ||
| SG Derin Saran (SO Transfer, UC Irvine) | 31 G, 19.1 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 1.6 apg, 35% 3P% | |
| G/F Oziyah Sellers (JR Transfer, Southern Cal) | 33 G, 14.3 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 43% 3P% | |
| F Evan Stinson (3-star FR) | ||
| PF Donavin Young (3-star FR) | ||
| F/C Aidan Cammann (3-star RS FR) | ||
| F/C Chisom Okpara (JR Transfer, Harvard) | 26 G, 30.5 mpg, 16.5 ppg, 5 rpg, 48% FG% | |
| F/C Tallis Toure (3-star FR) |
Stanford, like SMU, used the move to the ACC as the impetus for a coaching change, bringing an end to the lackluster tenure of Jared Haas. The Cardinal made one of the more impressive offseason coaching hires in that instance, poaching the Pac-12 Coach of the Year Kyle Smith from the now conference-less Washington State. The Cougars had been a Pac-12 also-ran for a decade after Tony Bennett left in 2009, but Smith turned them around to the tune of three straight league winning records, peaking last year with a 2nd place conference finish and an NCAAT 2nd Round appearance. Now he’s back to “square one” program building with a quickly reconstructed Cardinal roster.
At lead guard, Smith will have a competition between one of the few rotation incumbents, Benny Gealer, a solid young backup last year behind Jared Bynum, and Duke transfer and former 4-star recruit-turned-benchwarmer Jaylen Blakes. UC Irvine transfer Derin Saran is the closest thing to a proven option in the back court though will obviously have a big leap in competition to adjust for, and he’ll be complemented by USC transfer Oziyah Sellers who was inconsistent but promising as a sophomore off of the bench last year in the Pac-12. There isn’t a headliner in the group, nor any obvious instant-impact rookies, so Smith will have his hands full trying to develop this group on the fly.
The strength of this team is clearly in the front court, where the biggest win of Smith’s early recruiting was convincing Maxime Reynaud, the 7’1″ double-double machine and all-Pac-12 2nd teamer, to finish his career in the Bay Area. He’ll get paired in a twin-towers starting lineup with one of the Ivy League’s most reliable big men in Chisom Okpara. Behind them, though, are nothing but unproven rookies and a couple of to-date underperforming returners. Stanford will need a combination of Reynaud and Okpara playing marathon minutes with at least one of the youngsters proving ahead of schedule.
Kyle Smith is the right coach for this job, and there will likely come a day he’s turned Stanford into at least a consistently competitive club in the ACC. But this year looks rough. There’s way more questions than answers in the guard rotation, and the front court lacks any semblance of proven depth. This isn’t to say that Smith, excellent coach that he is, won’t get this roster to overperform and surprise some people. Just that it’ll be like Shrewsberry at Notre Dame last year, a “pleasant surprise” of a season means finishing with a half-dozen league wins but still a Day-1 ACCT participant.
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| Player | 2023-24 Stat Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | G Judah Mintz (Turned Pro) | 32 G, 33.9 mpg, 18.8 ppg, 4.4 apg, 28% 3P% |
| SF Quadir Copeland (Transferred to McNeese State) | 32 G, 22.4 mpg, 9.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 25% 3P% | |
| SF Justin Taylor (Transferred to JMU) | 32 G, 23.2 mpg, 5 ppg, 4 rpg, 30% 3P% | |
| F Benny Williams (Transferred to UCF) | 18 G, 17.1 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 21% 3P% | |
| PF Maliq Brown (Transferred to Duke) | 32 G, 29.6 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 70% FG% | |
| C Peter Carey (Transferred to Siena) | 14 G, 5 mpg, 0.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 29% FG% | |
| C Mounir Hima (Transferred to Howard) | 13 G, 3.3 mpg, 0.3 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 67% FG% | |
| Returners | G Kyle Cuffe (RS SO) | 29 G, 10.8 mpg, 3.2 ppg, 0.5 apg, 34% 3P% |
| SG JJ Starling (JR) | 32 G, 34.4 mpg, 13.3 ppg, 1.9 apg, 32% 3P% | |
| F Chris Bell (JR) | 32 G, 27 mpg, 12 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 42% 3P% | |
| C Naheem McLeod (SR+) | 14 G, 14.6 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 59% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Jaquan Carlos (SR Transfer, Hofstra) | 33 G, 35.5 mpg, 10.4 ppg, 6.3 apg, 34% 3P% |
| SG Elijah Moore (4-star FR) | ||
| G/F Lucas Taylor (SR Transfer, Georgia State) | 31 G, 30.7 mpg, 14.5 ppg, 3 rpg, 35% 3P% | |
| SF Chance Westry (RS SO Transfer, Auburn) | 11 G, 9.5 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 0% 3P% | |
| F Jyare Davis (SR Transfer, Delaware) | 32 G, 33.2 mpg, 17.1 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 26% 3P% | |
| PF Donnie Freeman (5-star FR) | ||
| F/C Petar Majstorovic (3-star FR) | ||
| C Eddie Lampkin (SR+ Transfer, Colorado) | 37 G, 27.8 mpg, 10.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 58% FG% |
The first year of the Adrian Autry era at Syracuse didn’t look that much different than the late-stage Boeheim years. There was a solid-looking collection of talent but a concerning lack of playable depth (including a 3-game ACC stretch with only 6 players used) resulting in a .500-ish league finish. In looking to build off last year’s 20-12 (11-9) record, Autry had to contend with a frustrating exodus of high-level talent when Judah Mintz went pro despite knowing he’d go undrafted, and Maliq Brown left to ring-chase with Duke. Justin Taylor, who started every game and was likely in line for another big role, elected to drop down to JMU.
The backcourt will build around returning shooting guard JJ Starling who had a solid showing last year in his first season at Syracuse, a well-balanced scorer with good size who should take over much of Mintz’s vacated backcourt scoring responsibility. Sliding into the point guard role will be Hofstra transfer Jaquan Carlos, one of the best passers in the CAA last year who also finished on the league’s all-Defense team. This will also be a big growth opportunity year for Kyle Cuffe, a former 4-star recruit who lost the 2022-23 season to knee surgery and was arguably shaking the rust off last year, and Top 100 rookie Elijah Moore will push to contribute as well.
On the wing, few ACC teams have a veteran scorer to build around like Chris Bell (formerly Bunch), who was Top 10 in the league last year in eFG% while taking immaculate care of the ball, and who boasts the size to play either the 3 or the 4 equally well. One-and-done candidate Donnie Freeman will have a shot at the 4-spot, a smooth athlete who should excel in the lane with the spacing Bell’s shooting provides. Three additional transfers will compete for the rotation in Delaware’s Jyare Davis, Georgia State’s Lucas Taylor, and former 4-star Chance Westry who missed last season with a knee injury. Autry has no shortage of pieces to work with here.
The five spot was reinforced with the massive 6’11″ 265lb addition of Colorado’s Eddie Lampkin, a proven high major post scoring and rebounding presence. The Orange do have depth questions behind him, though, with returning Naheem McLeod recovering from foot surgery and late-summer Euro addition Petar Majstorovic needing to adjust quickly to US ball. If they struggle, Autry will be rolling out a decisively undersized front court for long stretches.
Aside from the center depth question, the Orange do once again have a plus roster on paper. At least 10 of the 11 guys currently projected on scholarship look able to contribute (McLeod’s recovery being the only outstanding question). But is this the year a good “on paper” roster turns into a dominant regular season for Syracuse? Best bet is another top-half finish but likely still outside the top tier.
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| Player | 2023-24 Stat Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Reece Beekman (Turned Pro) | 34 G, 32.8 mpg, 14.3 ppg, 6.2 apg, 31% 3P% |
| PG Dante Harris (Transferred to TBD) | 24 G, 13.7 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 1.4 apg, 10% 3P% | |
| F Ryan Dunn (Turned Pro) | 34 G, 27.5 mpg, 8.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 20% 3P% | |
| F Leon Bond (Transferred to Northern Iowa) | 24 G, 12.3 mpg, 4.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 50% 3P% | |
| PF Jacob Groves (Graduated) | 34 G, 20.3 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 45% FG% | |
| C Jordan Minor (Graduated) | 32 G, 14.7 mpg, 4.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 47% FG% | |
| Returners | SG Isaac McKneely (JR) | 33 G, 32.4 mpg, 12.3 ppg, 1.6 apg, 45% 3P% |
| G/F Andrew Rohde (JR) | 33 G, 25.2 mpg, 4.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 26% 3P% | |
| SF Taine Murray (SR) | 33 G, 13.6 mpg, 3.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 45% 3P% | |
| C Blake Buchanan (SO) | 34 G, 15 mpg, 3.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 41% FG% | |
| Redshirting | SG Elijah Gertrude (SO, Medical) | 16 G, 9.4 mpg, 3.4 ppg, 0.4 apg, 7% 3P% |
| Additions | PG Christian Bliss (4-star RS FR) | |
| G Dai Dai Ames (SO Transfer, Kansas State) | 31 G, 20.6 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 2 apg, 33% 3P% | |
| G Jalen Warley (SR Transfer, Florida State) | 33 G, 24.1 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 2.8 apg, 14% 3P% | |
| SF Ishan Sharma (3-star FR) | ||
| F TJ Power (SO Transfer, Duke) | 26 G, 7 mpg, 2.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 36% 3P% | |
| PF Elijah Saunders (JR Transfer, San Diego State) | 37 G, 20.2 mpg, 6.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 42% FG% | |
| PF Jacob Cofie (4-star FR) | ||
| F/C Anthony Robinson (3-star RS FR) | ||
| C Carter Lang (SO Transfer, Vanderbilt) | 24 G, 11.6 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 43% FG% |
Since Virginia’s 2019 national title, the Cavaliers have been steadily trending backwards towards the pack, recently having plateaued the last few seasons as a borderline NCAAT-quality program that’s lacked the kind of consistency and star power it boasted during Tony Bennett’s peak seasons. UVA loses four key pieces to graduation and the NBA and will look to a number of younger role players and upside-focused transfers to gel quickly.
Two former four-star center prospects will compete at the lead guard spots. Veteran FSU transfer Jalen Warley is a Ben Simmons type jumbo point without being a real threat from deep but did rank a respectable 16th in the ACC in assist rate last year. Kansas State transfer Dai Dai Ames had a spotty rookie campaign in the Big XII but did improve down the stretch, starting the Wildcats’ last 13 games. Warley’s experience probably gives him the starting edge, but expect both to play heavy minutes.
They’ll be able to lean on proven shooting guard Isaac McKneely at shooting guard, one of college basketball’s most established volume shooters, and he’ll look to become an even more well-rounded scorer as he becomes an upperclassman. Competition for the remaining perimeter spots will be wide open this summer after former Summit League ROY Andrew Rohde struggled mightily in his rapid ascent to the ACC last year. Former 4-star international small forward Taine Murray has looked good in limited spurts thus far in his career and could try to go out strong, while a pair of rookies in the redshirted Christian Bliss and sharp-shooting Canadian Ishan Sharma try to crash the party.
Bennett will have a pair of intriguing options to work with at the 4-spot. Elijah Saunders is the presumptive starting power forward after he was a part time starter on an excellent San Diego State team (KenPom #22 finish with a Sweet 16 run; Saunders blew up a lot from his freshman to his sophomore season so there’s reason to believe there’s more growth in his game still to come. Supporting him is Duke transfer and former 5-star TJ Power, a long sniper who will need to prove he can handle defense in an expanded role after only playing double-digit minutes in three ACC games last year. Blake Buchanan, another former 4-star, steps into a starting role at center after a promising freshman year off the bench, but the backup 5-spot is a big concern with only a pair of rookies to work with in Jacob Cofie and the redshirted Anthony Robinson. Carter Lang was a role player at Vanderbilt but is expected to take only a walk-on role at UVA.
Virginia hasn’t finished at or below .500 in ACC play since the 2010-11 season, a streak that ties Coach K for the 2nd longest in league history (Dean Smith’s 33 seasons isn’t being touched). UVA has a lot of uncertainty as it fails to return an incumbent point guard for the first time since London Perrantes arrived. There’s lots of talent, with 8 former 4- or 5-stars, and depth with maybe 12 or 13 guys who can ultimately play at this level. But it’s unproven, as only Isaac McKneely has ever averaged double-digit scoring for a season, and Bennett may be counting on contributions from as many as 7 or 8 new faces for a program that typically excels with roster stability. This has the potential to be yet another “working out the kinks” season as Bennett tries to reinvent last season’s dismal offense, so the safe bet is to assume another top half finish but see them still struggle at times to put all the pieces together.
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| Player | 2023-24 Stat Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Sean Pedulla (Transferred to Ole Miss) | 32 G, 32.1 mpg, 16.4 ppg, 4.6 apg, 33% 3P% |
| SG Hunter Cattoor (Graduated) | 33 G, 33.2 mpg, 13.5 ppg, 1.9 apg, 41% 3P% | |
| G/F MJ Collins (Transferred to Vanderbilt) | 32 G, 29.5 mpg, 7.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 28% 3P% | |
| F Tyler Nickel (Transferred to Vanderbilt) | 33 G, 24.3 mpg, 8.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 40% 3P% | |
| F Mekhi Long (Graduated) | 18 G, 18.5 mpg, 3.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 0% 3P% | |
| PF Robbie Beran (Graduated) | 34 G, 22.3 mpg, 5.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| PF John Camden (Transferred to Delaware) | 14 G, 4.5 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 1 rpg, 37% FG% | |
| F/C Lynn Kidd (Transferred to Miami) | 33 G, 23.3 mpg, 13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 67% FG% | |
| Returners | PG Brandon Rechsteiner (SO) | 26 G, 9.2 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 1.3 apg, 27% 3P% |
| SG Jaydon Young (SO) | 26 G, 8.5 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 0.7 apg, 38% 3P% | |
| C Mylyjael Poteat (SR+) | 34 G, 14.5 mpg, 6.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 64% FG% | |
| C Patrick Wessler (SO) | 13 G, 3.8 mpg, 0.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 39% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Hysier Miller (SR Transfer, Temple) | 36 G, 36.4 mpg, 15.9 ppg, 4 apg, 29% 3P% |
| PG Ben Hammond (3-star FR) | ||
| SF Jaden Schutt (RS SO Transfer, Duke) | 14 G, 6.9 mpg, 2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 35% 3P% | |
| SF Rodney Brown (SO Transfer, California) | 32 G, 14.2 mpg, 3.5 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 40% 3P% | |
| SF Tyler Johnson (3-star FR) | ||
| F Toibu Lawal (JR Transfer, VCU) | 38 G, 18.9 mpg, 7.7 ppg, 6 rpg, 43% 3P% | |
| F Ben Burnham (SR Transfer, College of Charleston) | 35 G, 22 mpg, 11.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 37% 3P% | |
| F/C Connor Serven (RS SR Transfer, Eastern Michigan) | 31 G, 17.9 mpg, 3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 43% FG% | |
| F/C Ryan Jones (4-star FR) |
Since winning the 2022 ACC Tournament out of the 7-seed spot, Mike Young’s Hokies (now entering the 6th season under the former Wofford coach) have settled into programmatic mediocrity. Unfortunately for the few hoops die-hards in Blacksburg, Young has to replace his entire starting lineup this year after Tech’s paltry NIL offerings, outdated facilities, and otherwise lack of national prospects saw most of their talented players leave for more lucrative offerings elsewhere.
In the back court, Hokies will need Temple transfer Hysier Miller, a low efficiency volume scorer in the AAC last year, to rise to the higher level of competition, or at least learn to shoot less and pass more, especially as underclassman Brandon Rechsteiner struggled in his limited role last year. The wing rotation will be competed between a number of sophomores with little production to date in returning Jaydon Young, Duke transfer Jaden Schutt, and Cal transfer Rodney Brown, with a couple of 3-star recruits in the mix as well.
The optimism on this team is in the front court. Young was able to convince highly efficient center Mylyjael Poteat to stick around for his final season where he’ll look to take on a feature role he ceded to Lynn Kidd last year. Two quality transfers arrive as well. VCU’s Toibu Lawal was the A-10’s version of Ryan Dunn last year as a high energy rebounder, disrupter, and rim runner. Ben Burnham was the lone College of Charleston star not to follow Pat Kelsey to Louisville and can provide a unique stretch-forward capability while still being effective inside as well. Lawal and Burnham may additionally be able to play together at the 3 and 4 for a jumbo lineup. 4-star Ryan Jones, the highest rated recruit of Young’s tenure according to 247’s composite, figures to factor in as well off the bench.
Young’s teams will never be outright bad, he’s a fairly good coach from both a culture and a tactical perspective. But putting enough pieces together to get back into the top tier ACC discussion that Buzz Williams briefly achieved for them, is years away at best with AD Whit Babcock’s strategic decision to go all-in financially on the football program for the time being. VT’s forward and center rotation does show some promise, but too much needs to break right with the guards and wings to have any real confidence in VT going into the year. With the middle of the ACC’s pack looking stronger this year, it’s hard to see the Hokies even getting near .500 in league play. They’ll play hard; and may even score a couple of upsets when the likes of Duke or UVA visit Cassell, but on the whole this is a team that’s going to struggle badly on the road and will be a longshot for an ACCT bye. With eight underclassmen, it’s more likely Young really has his eye on next year.
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| Player | 2023-24 Stat Line | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Kevin Miller (Transferred to SMU) | 35 G, 32 mpg, 15.6 ppg, 3.5 apg, 37% 3P% |
| SF Damari Monsanto (Transferred to UTSA) | 11 G, 12.5 mpg, 5.1 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 35% 3P% | |
| F/C Andrew Carr (Transferred to Kentucky) | 35 G, 32.5 mpg, 13.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 53% FG% | |
| F/C Zach Keller (Transferred to Utah) | 27 G, 11 mpg, 1.6 ppg, 2 rpg, 35% FG% | |
| F/C Matthew Marsh (Transferred to Oregon State) | 22 G, 10.3 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 68% FG% | |
| Returners | G Hunter Sallis (SR) | 34 G, 35.4 mpg, 18 ppg, 2.5 apg, 41% 3P% |
| SG Cameron Hildreth (SR) | 35 G, 34.1 mpg, 13.8 ppg, 2.4 apg, 35% 3P% | |
| SG Parker Friedrichsen (SO) | 35 G, 17.9 mpg, 5.1 ppg, 0.6 apg, 37% 3P% | |
| F Marqus Marion (SO) | 21 G, 11 mpg, 1.1 ppg, 2 rpg, 40% 3P% | |
| C Efton Reid (SR) | 28 G, 27.6 mpg, 9.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 55% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Ty-Laur Johnson (SO Transfer, Louisville) | 30 G, 23.1 mpg, 8.7 ppg, 3.6 apg, 19% 3P% |
| G/F Davin Cosby (SO Transfer, Alabama) | 22 G, 8 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| G/F Juke Harris (4-star FR) | ||
| F Tre’Von Spillers (SR Transfer, Appalachian State) | 34 G, 29 mpg, 12.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 0% 3P% | |
| PF Omaha Biliew (SO Transfer, Iowa State) | 20 G, 7.4 mpg, 2.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 52% FG% | |
| C Churchill Abass (SO Transfer, DePaul) | 30 G, 15.9 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 58% FG% |
Wake Forest has been one of the more consistent programs under Steve Forbes the last three season. Unfortunately for Demon Deacon fans, that has meant consistently NIT level, winning between 10 and 13 ACC games each of those years (which followed his understandably difficult first season cleaning up Danny Manning’s mess). As Wake enters this coming season, there’s a lot of pressure for Forbes to finally get the Deacons over the hump and into the NCAA Tournament with a number of impressive players returning.
No coach had a better day at the NBA Draft Withdrawal deadline than Forbes did when Hunter Sallis, a 1st-Team All-ACC selection last season, elected to play his senior year at Wake; there arguably isn’t a more well-rounded scoring guard in the league. Wake did effectively trade Kevin Miller for Louisville’s Ty-Laur Johnson in the transfer portal at the point guard position, and while Johnson is certainly electric, it was also erratic. Wake boasts two additional quality backcourt returners in floor spacers Cam Hildreth and Parker Friedrichsen, while also made a value play in the transfer portal for former 4-star Alabama transfer Davin Crosby. Along with four-star rookie Juke Harris, Forbes has a lot of options to work with in building a perimeter rotation around Sallis.
The front court is anchored by veteran center Efton Reid, a former Top 50 recruit who was a breakout for the Deacons last year after underwhelming stops at LSU and Gonzaga prior. Likely starting at the 4-spot is App State transfer, a first team all-Sun Belt forward known for his attacking offense and high energy on the defensive glass. Forbes is banking on another reclamation project in Iowa State transfer Omaha Biliew, the #13 overall player in the 2023 class (247sports composite) who got buried on the Cyclones bench behind a trio of seniors and the breakout of fellow blue-chipper Milan Momcilovic. DePaul big man Churchill Abass arrives to back up Reid at the 5 and round out the front court rotation.
There are a couple of question marks with this roster relative to whether or not Forbes can continue to work the kind of magic with Biliew, Cosby, and Johnson that he did previously with Sallis and Reid, tapping into the upside of talented prospects that eluded them at their previous stops. If so, Wake can take the already impressive returning core of Sallis, Hildreth, and Reid to the next level, to the point that this looks like the year Wake turns the corner under Forbes, maybe even crashing the party atop the league with Duke and UNC.
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That wraps the final set of these ACC Preview Capsules. Stay tuned in next week for StLouHoo’s power rankings taking into account the information he’s laid out here.
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