By: StLouHoo
@HoosPlace
Welcome back to another year of ACC previews, where we’re going to go team by team through the league, six at a time, and look close at each In the first installment, going alphabetically, we’ll recap Boston College through Georgia Tech, recapping key retention and additions while trying to get a feel for how each team will fare in this year’s ACC hierarchy.
Once we’ve gotten through all 18, we’ll rack and stack our preseason league Power Rankings, so stay tuned.
And as always, special thanks to Cuts for everything he does for UVA hoops fans.
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| Player | 2024-2025 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | G Dion Brown (Transferred to Saint Louis) | 31 G, 25.6 mpg, 7.5 ppg, 1.5 apg, 35% 3P% |
| G Joshua Beadle (Transferred to Coastal Carolina) | 31 G, 18.1 mpg, 5.9 ppg, 2 apg, 47% 3P% | |
| G/F Chas Kelley III (Transferred to Georgia Tech) | 31 G, 18.8 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 32% 3P% | |
| SF Roger McFarlane (Graduated) | 29 G, 24.9 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 30% 3P% | |
| PF Elijah Strong (Transferred to South Carolina) | 27 G, 23.6 mpg, 9.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 45% FG% | |
| C Chad Venning (Graduated) | 29 G, 26.3 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 55% FG% | |
| Returners | G Fred Payne (RS SO) | 30 G, 18.2 mpg, 6.9 ppg, 1.2 apg, 34% 3P% |
| G Luka Toews (SO) | 24 G, 8.6 mpg, 1.6 ppg, 1.3 apg, 25% 3P% | |
| G/F Donald Hand Jr. (RS JR) | 31 G, 33.2 mpg, 15.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 37% 3P% | |
| PF Kany Tchanda (SO) | 11 G, 5.6 mpg, 0.4 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 22% FG% | |
| F/C Jayden Hastings (SO) | 31 G, 15 mpg, 4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 61% FG% | |
| Additions | G Chase Forte (SR+ Transfer, South Dakota) | 33 G, 26.9 mpg, 17.9 ppg, 3.2 apg, 32% 3P% |
| SG Caleb Steger (3-star FR) | ||
| G/F Akbar Waheed (3-star FR) | ||
| PF Aidan Shaw (SR Transfer, Missouri) | 28 G, 9.2 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 64% FG% | |
| PF Jason Asemota (SO Transfer, Baylor) | 24 G, 6.3 mpg, 1.6 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 33% FG% | |
| F/C Jack Bailey (3-star FR) | ||
| C Boden Kapke (JR Transfer, Butler) | 34 G, 13.4 mpg, 4.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 40% FG% | |
| SG Nick Petronio (3-star RS FR) |
It’s hard to believe this will already be Earl Grant’s fifth year in Chestnut Hill, so unnoticeable his presence has been. Which isn’t to say he’s doing a bad job, he’s just doing an average job for the program, where coaching is rarely the problem so much as resourcing and fan interest at a football school in a pro town. Which is to say I don’t think it’s fair to put him on the hot seat necessarily, but it is important to set the stage for what’s likely another subpar season after at least reaching the NIT in 2024.
Grant does at least have a pair of incumbent guards to build around in Fred Payne and Donald Hand Jr, entering their 3rd and 4th years respectively and established in the ACC. South Dakota transfer guard Chase Forte (EvanMiya’s #144 / 4-star transfer) was a volume scorer (1st Team all-Summit) and lockdown defender (league DPOY) last season and is a potential under-the-radar ACC standout, giving Grant a capable starting backcourt, though question marks will abound as unproven rookies make up their bench.
Where things fall apart is moving to the totally rebuilt frontcourt where no impact players return and Grant was unable to find any high-level transfers. Aidan Shaw, Jason Asemota, and Boden Kapke are all power conference transfers, but the three combined for just 29 minutes and 8 points a game at their respective schools last season. Maybe there’s some chance they thrive in expanded roles, but it’s a big ask.
The Eagles will continue to catch the occasional visitor sleeping on those snowy Tuesday night 9pm games, but we’ve got little confidence that Hand and Forte can do enough to get this team even into the league’s middle tier, instead likely headed for another bottom-third finish.
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| Player | 2024-2025 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Jovan Blacksher Jr. (Graduated) | 29 G, 29.7 mpg, 10.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 34% 3P% |
| G Jeremiah Wilkinson (Transferred to Georgia) | 32 G, 27.3 mpg, 15.1 ppg, 1.5 apg, 32% 3P% | |
| G Christian Tucker (Graduated) | 33 G, 12.1 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 1 apg, 36% 3P% | |
| F Andrej Stojakovic (Transferred to Illinois) | 29 G, 33.4 mpg, 17.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 32% 3P% | |
| PF Joshua Ola-Joseph (Transferred to Loyola Chicago) | 24 G, 17.7 mpg, 7.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 45% FG% | |
| PF B.J. Omot (Transferred to Minnesota) | 4 G, 26.5 mpg, 10.8 ppg, 3 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| F/C Mady Sissoko (Graduated) | 32 G, 27 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 65% FG% | |
| F/C Spencer Mahoney (Transferred to Temple) | 27 G, 6.3 mpg, 1.5 ppg, 1 rpg, 28% FG% | |
| Returners | G DJ Campbell (SR) | 27 G, 25.8 mpg, 7.8 ppg, 1.6 apg, 23% 3P% |
| F Rytis Petraitis (SR) | 33 G, 27.9 mpg, 8.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 26% 3P% | |
| C Lee Dort (RS JR) | 33 G, 14.3 mpg, 3.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 59% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Semetri Carr (3-star FR) | |
| G Dai Dai Ames (JR Transfer, Virginia) | 31 G, 25.7 mpg, 8.7 ppg, 1.9 apg, 40% 3P% | |
| G Justin Pippen (SO Transfer, Michigan) | 28 G, 6.7 mpg, 1.6 ppg, 0.6 apg, 27% 3P% | |
| G/F Jovani Ruff (4-star FR) | ||
| G/F Nolan Dorsey (RS SR Transfer, Campbell) | 32 G, 32.3 mpg, 9.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 36% 3P% | |
| SF Chris Bell (SR Transfer, Syracuse) | 33 G, 21.5 mpg, 9.3 ppg, 2 rpg, 35% 3P% | |
| F John Camden (RS SR Transfer, Delaware) | 36 G, 34.3 mpg, 16.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 42% 3P% | |
| PF Milos Ilic (RS SR Transfer, Loyola Maryland) | 31 G, 27 mpg, 14.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 52% FG% | |
| F/C Oskar Giltay (3-star FR) | ||
| F/C Sammie Yeanay (3-star RS FR) | 5 G, 5.6 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 60% FG% |
Cal’s inaugural season in the ACC, and Mark Madsen’s 2nd as the head coach of the Bears, was a dud as they finished 6-14 in the league despite featuring some exciting talent like Andrej Stojakovic. Their top four scorers are gone, but three key rotation players do return in guard DJ Campbell, wing Ryan Petraitis, and big man Lee Dort. None are expected stars this year, but it at least there’s a foundation for the integration of 10 new faces.
There are some good looking pieces in the transfer class, with intra-conference movers Virginia combo Dai Dai Ames and Syracuse wing Chris Bell both locks to step into immediate roles, and Campell transfer Nolan Dorsey and 4-star rookie Jovani Ruff should be capable rotation pieces. Dort will get reinforced in the front court by 2nd-Team all CAA forward John Camden and 2nd-Team All-Patriot big Milos Ilic, so there is a baseline of playable depth.
It’s a lot of new pieces for Madsen to put together this offseason, though they should at least be marginally improved. This still isn’t a top-half ACC roster, and I’m always going to have reservations with these West Coast teams performing on cross-country trips, so we’ll pencil them in for somewhere around a 7-11 kind of finish.
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| Player | 2024-2025 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | G Chase Hunter (Graduated) | 34 G, 33.5 mpg, 16.5 ppg, 2.5 apg, 41% 3P% |
| G Jaeden Zackery (Graduated) | 34 G, 35.5 mpg, 11.7 ppg, 3.1 apg, 36% 3P% | |
| G Del Jones (Transferred to Radford) | 32 G, 11.8 mpg, 3.8 ppg, 1 apg, 31% 3P% | |
| SF Jake Heidbreder (Transferred to Fresno State) | 32 G, 14 mpg, 4.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 37% 3P% | |
| F Asa Thomas (Transferred to Furman) | 12 G, 2.3 mpg, 1.2 ppg, 0.2 rpg, 50% 3P% | |
| PF Ian Schieffelin (Graduated) | 34 G, 33.4 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 50% FG% | |
| PF Chauncey Wiggins (Transferred to Florida State) | 34 G, 23.6 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| PF Myles Foster (Graduated) | 28 G, 5.9 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 56% FG% | |
| F/C Viktor Lakhin (Graduated) | 34 G, 23.6 mpg, 11.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 51% FG% | |
| C Christian Reeves (Transferred to College of Charleston) | 29 G, 5 mpg, 1.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 50% FG% | |
| Returners | SG Dillon Hunter (SR) | 30 G, 22.6 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 1.9 apg, 31% 3P% |
| Additions | G Ace Buckner (3-star RS FR) | |
| G Zac Foster (4-star FR) | ||
| G Jestin Porter (SR Transfer, Middle Tennessee) | 34 G, 33.7 mpg, 15 ppg, 1.2 apg, 36% 3P% | |
| SG Efrem Johnson (SR Transfer, UAB) | 37 G, 26.8 mpg, 8.8 ppg, 1.8 apg, 32% 3P% | |
| F Dallas Thomas (3-star RS FR) | ||
| F Chase Thompson (3-star FR) | ||
| PF Blake Davidson (3-star FR) | ||
| PF Jake Wahlin (JR Transfer, Utah) | 33 G, 23.5 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 47% FG% | |
| PF RJ Godfrey (SR Transfer, Georgia) | 33 G, 19.4 mpg, 6.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 53% FG% | |
| PF Nick Davidson (SR Transfer, Nevada) | 33 G, 33.2 mpg, 15.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 50% FG% | |
| F/C Trent Steinour (3-star FR) | ||
| F/C Carter Welling (JR Transfer, Utah Valley) | 32 G, 24.5 mpg, 13.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 48% FG% |
This season will be an epic test of Brad Brownell’s abilities, tasked with essentially a total roster overhaul following the graduation or transfer of all but one rotation player. Only role player Dillon Hunter remains from last year’s team (and his presence always felt like a favor to his older brother Chase anyways), so expect new faces to make up most if not all of the Tigers’ 2025-26 key contributions. Rookies Zac Foster and Ace Buckner may be battling for the opportunity to be the Day 1 floor general.
There are a lot of questions looking at the guard situation. Middle Tennessee scoring guard Jestin Porter (2x 2nd-Team all-CUSA) and UAB wing Efrem Johnson (EvanMiya transfer rankings of #398 and #381 respectively) but neither have a point guard reputation or are dead-eye shooters. This backcourt looks like a meaningful step back from last year’s impressive guard pairing of Chase Hunter and Jaeden Zackery.
The Tigers did parlay their recent success with big men, however, into some impressive Portal scores in the front court, headlined by Nevada’s Nick Davidson (2nd team all-MWC, EvanMiya’s #15 transfer / 5-star equivalent). He’s reinforced by three other Top-300 transfers in Jake Wahlin, RJ Godfrey, and Carter Welling, meaning the Tigers can go jumbo for 40 minutes a night with proven upperclassman bigs.
The lack of star power at guard does put a hard cap on the Tigers’ upside, and why they’re not being considered a contender for the top of the ACC this year. But that front court is going to keep them in a lot of games, especially when opponents have to go to their bench. It’s hard to bet against Brownell at this stage, so even without the guard depth, we’ll still say they finish above .500 in the ACC and end up in the Bubble conversation come next March.
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| Player | 2024-2025 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | G/F Tyrese Proctor (Turned Pro) | 38 G, 29.9 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 3 rpg, 41% 3P% |
| G/F Sion James (Graduated) | 39 G, 25.5 mpg, 8.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 41% 3P% | |
| SF Kon Knueppel (Turned Pro) | 39 G, 30.5 mpg, 14.4 ppg, 4 rpg, 41% 3P% | |
| F Mason Gillis (Graduated) | 37 G, 14.7 mpg, 4.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| PF Cooper Flagg (Turned Pro) | 37 G, 30.7 mpg, 19.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 48% FG% | |
| C Khaman Maluach (Turned Pro) | 39 G, 21.2 mpg, 8.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 71% FG% | |
| Returners | G/F Caleb Foster (JR) | 38 G, 14 mpg, 4.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 34% 3P% |
| SF Isaiah Evans (SO) | 36 G, 13.8 mpg, 6.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 42% 3P% | |
| SF Darren Harris (SO) | 21 G, 6.1 mpg, 2 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 23% 3P% | |
| F/C Maliq Brown (SR) | 26 G, 15.8 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 66% FG% | |
| C Patrick Ngongba (SO) | 30 G, 10.5 mpg, 3.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 72% FG% | |
| Additions | G/F Cayden Boozer (4-star FR) | |
| SF Dame Sarr (5-star FR) | ||
| F Sebastian Wilkins (4-star FR) | ||
| F Cameron Boozer (5-star FR) | ||
| F Nikolas Khamenia (5-star FR) | ||
| F Jack Scott (SR Transfer, Princeton) | 20 G, 10 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 23% 3P% | |
| F/C Ifeanyi Ufochukwu (RS JR Transfer, Rice) | 16 G, 3.3 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 43% FG% |
Many will see the failure to win a national championship last year as underachievement for the Devils, but a narrow loss to Houston the Final Four after winning both the ACC regular season and Tournament is an impressive season for any program not in Coach K’s shadow.
Jon Sheyer will rebound just fine as he has a strong core of five rotation players to integrate with his Blue Chip freshman class. Caleb Foster is in line to serve as this year’s veteran lead guard, stepping up into a 25+ mpg role as a number of rookies (4-star Cayden Boozer, international prospect Dame Sarr) and returning role players (rising sophomores Isaiah Evans and Darren Harris) compete to round out the guard rotation. It’ll be a step back from last year, especially early on until the rotation shakes out and guys gain confidence in their new roles.
A pair of potential one-and-done forwards in Cam Boozer (projected Lottery pick) and Nik Khamania will rotate at the 4 spot. Returners Maliq Brown and Patrick Ngongba will platoon at the 5 and prove perhaps the most reliable position on Duke’s roster going into the season. The two big man transfers (Princetone’s Jack Scott and Rice’s Ifeanyi Ufochukwu) were primarily brought in for practice depth.
This is not as high-upside a roster as last year, with a more realistic target the Sweet 16 than repeating in the Final Four. There’s certainly still plenty of talent and they project as one of the ACC’s top tier teams, but won’t be quite as dominant. Expect a 14-4 kind of ACC season, Top 15-ish nationally, and ultimately a 3-seed upside for the NCAA Tournament.
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| Player | 2024-2025 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Daquan Davis (Transferred to Providence) | 31 G, 25.6 mpg, 8.8 ppg, 2.5 apg, 28% 3P% |
| G/F Chandler Jackson (Transferred to Arkansas State) | 29 G, 24.2 mpg, 6.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 15% 3P% | |
| SF Bostyn Holt (Transferred) | 30 G, 12.7 mpg, 3 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 26% 3P% | |
| F Justin Thomas (Transferred to Bowling Green) | 32 G, 22.1 mpg, 4.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 33% 3P% | |
| F Jamir Watkins (Turned Pro) | 32 G, 30.9 mpg, 18.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 32% 3P% | |
| PF Jerry Deng (Transferred to NC State) | 31 G, 15.4 mpg, 7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 43% FG% | |
| F/C Malique Ewin (Transferred to Arkansas) | 30 G, 26.2 mpg, 14.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 60% FG% | |
| F/C Taylor Bol Bowen (Transferred to Alabama) | 29 G, 25 mpg, 8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 48% FG% | |
| C Christian Nitu (Transferred to Washington) | 22 G, 6.9 mpg, 1.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 41% FG% | |
| Returners | SF AJ Swinton (SO) | 28 G, 10.5 mpg, 2.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 36% 3P% |
| C Alier Maluk (SO) | 31 G, 10.8 mpg, 2.7 ppg, 2 rpg, 55% FG% | |
| Additions | G Cam Miles (3-star FR) | |
| G Martin Somerville (SO Transfer, UMass Lowell) | 32 G, 31.5 mpg, 13.6 ppg, 3.7 apg, 41% 3P% | |
| SG Robert McCray V (RS SR Transfer, Jacksonville) | 32 G, 29.7 mpg, 16.2 ppg, 4.5 apg, 33% 3P% | |
| SF Kobe MaGee (SR Transfer, Drexel) | 33 G, 33.7 mpg, 14 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 44% 3P% | |
| F Thomas Bassong (3-star FR) | ||
| F Lajae Jones (RS JR Transfer, St Bonaventure) | 34 G, 33 mpg, 10.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 39% 3P% | |
| F/C Chauncey Wiggins (SR Transfer, Clemson) | 34 G, 23.6 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| F/C Alex Steen (JR Transfer, Florida Southern ([D-II]) | ||
| F/C Egor Ryshov (3-star FR) | ||
| F/C Shahid Muhammad (RS JR Transfer, UMass) | 31 G, 12.5 mpg, 3.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 64% FG% |
The big update in Tallahassee is that legendary coach Leonard Hamilton retired (I’ll always be bummed he was deprived of the 2020 postseason, where he had a great chance to finally break through to the Final Four), and the Seminoles replaced him with NBA assistant Luke Loucks. Loucks is a former Seminole (class of 2012) but has never coached collegiately before and this is a major gamble. Expectedly, most of the talent left along with Hamilton.
Jacksonville transfer Robert McCray (1st team All-Atlantic Sun. Top 150 4-star transfer on EvanMiya) and UMass Lowell transfer Martin Somerville (Atlantic East ROY) will step right into lead guard duties while rookie Cam Miles works in developmentally. The Noles will have a couple options to work with on the wing in Drexel transfer Kobe MaGee (All-CAA 3rd Team) and returning rotation player AJ Swinton.
Two capable transfers will take over the forward spots, neither overly heralded but still proven steady options from higher level programs. Lajae Jones comes over as an established stretch 4 from St Bonaventure, and Chancey Wiggins is looking to break out in a starting role after having been caught up in a numbers game in Clemson’s deep front court. There’s little in the way of front court depth, though, unless D-II big man Alex Steen (18 ppg, 10 rpg, 2.5 blkpg in the Sunshine State Conference as the league DPOY) proves immediately ready for the jump up in competition. Additional bigs like Umass transfer Shahid Muhammed, international rookie Egor Ryshov, and incumbent Aller Maluk, are all unlikely to be plus ACC contributors this upcoming season.
It’s not a roster barren of talent, but no reason to have much confidence it comes together effectively under a coach who’s never coached a college roster before or been a big whistle at any level. Expect a lot of inconsistencies and growing pains as the Noles drift towards the bottom of the league yet again.
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| Player | 2024-2025 Stats | |
|---|---|---|
| Departures | PG Javian McCollum (Graduated) | 20 G, 27.8 mpg, 11.9 ppg, 3.6 apg, 36% 3P% |
| G Lance Terry (Graduated) | 31 G, 34.5 mpg, 14.5 ppg, 1.6 apg, 36% 3P% | |
| G Naithan George (Transferred to Syracuse) | 34 G, 35.6 mpg, 12.3 ppg, 6.5 apg, 34% 3P% | |
| F Luke O’Brien (Graduated) | 10 G, 21.1 mpg, 6.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 32% 3P% | |
| PF Duncan Powell (Transferred to Providence) | 33 G, 29.5 mpg, 12.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 44% FG% | |
| PF Ibrahim Souare (Transferred to Syracuse) | 30 G, 17 mpg, 2.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 60% FG% | |
| PF Darrion Sutton (Transferred) | 18 G, 12 mpg, 1.3 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 25% FG% | |
| C Doryan Onwuchekwa (Transferred to Tulsa) | 10 G, 18.2 mpg, 3.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 33% FG% | |
| C Ryan Mutombo (Graduated) | 15 G, 10.1 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 47% FG% | |
| Returners | SF Kowacie Reeves (RS SR) | 6 G, 23.8 mpg, 9.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 28% 3P% |
| SF Jaeden Mustaf (SO) | 26 G, 24.4 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 34% 3P% | |
| PF Baye Ndongo (JR) | 34 G, 30.2 mpg, 13.4 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 54% FG% | |
| Additions | PG Eric Chatfield (3-star FR) | |
| G Davi Remagen (3-star FR) | ||
| SG Akai Fleming (4-star FR) | ||
| SG Lamar Washington (SR Transfer, Pacific) | 33 G, 34.3 mpg, 13.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 30% 3P% | |
| G/F Brandon Stores (3-star FR) | ||
| G/F Chas Kelley III (SR Transfer, Boston College ) | 31 G, 18.8 mpg, 4.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 32% 3P% | |
| SF Kam Craft (RS JR Transfer, Miami (OH)) | 34 G, 25.7 mpg, 13.6 ppg, 3 rpg, 43% 3P% | |
| F Dyllan Thompson (3-star RS FR) | ||
| F/C Cole Kirouac (3-star FR) | ||
| C Mouhamed Sylla (4-star FR) | ||
| C Peyton Marshall (RS SO Transfer, Missouri) | 22 G, 4.4 mpg, 1 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 50% FG% |
Last season was potentially a quiet step in the right direction for the Jackets, going .500 in the ACC and reaching the NIT in coach Damon Stoudamire’s second season. The hopes to build off that, to take yet another step forward, took some hit in the surprising departure of rising 3rd year guard Naithan George (Honorable Mention all-ACC), but Stoudamire will see if there is still enough of a returning core for continued momentum.
Attempting to replace George as the team’s veteran floor general is Pacific transfer Lamar Washington (All-WCC 2nd Team, Top 150 transfer / 4-star on EvanMiya), who racked up big assist numbers but is questionable as a shooter and a bit turnover prone (3.9 topg as a junior). The jackets will surround Washington with three big scorers in Miami (OH) transfer Kam Craft (#519 transfer on EvanMiya) and incumbents Kowacie Reeves and Jaeden Mustaf. There will be opportunities for rookies like 4-star Akai Fleming to work in as well, as Stoudamire has proven apt at getting quality minutes out of his rookies in two years in Atlanta.
The front court will center around one of the best big men in the ACC in the returning Baye Ndongo (3rd team All-ACC) but the rest of the post rotation is a giant question mark. There’s the potential for 4-star rookie Mouhamed Sylla to make an early impact off the bench, but it’s highly likely the glut of veteran wings pushes Stoudamire to go 4-guard as his base lineup.
The disappointing truth is that Ndongo can’t do it all by himself in the front court, and this is a guard-heavy roster that is likely going to get overwhelmed on the boards and in the paint this year. I think they’ll push for .500 in the ACC, but it’s really hard to see them building off last year’s success with George gone and no real transfer success with post players this cycle. I don’t think Stoudamire’s seat is hot with another mediocre season, but any momentum and goodwill gained from last year’s NIT bid looks to be in jeopardy with another lackluster season ahead.
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Cuts note here: That does it for Part #1 of StLouHoo’s preview for the upcoming ACC Basketball season. A big thanks again to him for doing this! Stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 as well as his Power Ranking heading into the season.
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