ACC Prospect Preview: 2024-25
The ACC is set for another season of intense basketball with numerous quality draft prospects.
With college basketball resuming in about a month, teams are locked in and ready to go. Programs spent the long offseason retooling their rosters through portal combat and intense recruiting. This also signifies a turning point in the NBA draft cycle, as the majority of prospects that will compose the upcoming NBA Draft class will make their debuts.
It’s par for the course for me to deep dive into each conference before the season begins and as usual, I’ll start with the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The conference stands out to me for a multitude of reasons. I’m personally connected as a diehard Syracuse fan and student. Additionally, it's notorious for producing NBA talent. No other conference has had more players drafted to the association since 2020. Here’s a breakdown of players drafted by conference:
ACC: 32 players
SEC: 29 players
Big Ten: 27 players
Big 12: 21 players
Pac-12: 17 players
American Athletic Conference (AAC): 12 players
West Coast Conference (WCC): 10 players
Mountain West Conference: 7 players
Atlantic 10: 7 players
Horizon League: 3 players
Other Conferences: 6 players
This year is no different. The conference is poised to be ultra-competitive. Numerous teams boast potential draftees, ready to make a name for themselves.
New Year, Same Blue Devils
Man, I hate Duke. But denying their immense talent would be disingenuous of me. The Blue Devils may have their best team since the 2018-19 NCAA season, where Zion Williamson spearheaded the roster.
Unless you have been living under a rock, odds are you know the name Cooper Flagg. The Montverde product has shown the ability to effectively operate on all three levels as a primary shot creator and facilitator. He’s a tenacious, versatile defender. He utilizes his awareness and IQ to clog passing lanes and act as a secondary rim protector. The case is clear for him: high floor, high ceiling. He’s joined by 5 other Top 100 prospects in Durham. South Sudanese Big Khaman Maluach is an athletic freak. His natural fluidity enables him to play inside out. His above-the-rim impact fits the mold for the type of center NBA teams are searching for. Isaiah Evans is reminiscent of former Dukie Brandon Ingram. He approaches offense with a balanced scoring attack, using his smooth handle and high release to generate shots everywhere on the court. He’s a disruptive force on the defensive end. His length and footwork allow him to apply pressure on and off-ball. Kon Kneuppal has seen his value skyrocket this summer. At 6’7, Kneuppal is a deadeye shooter who is a secondary facilitator. His natural feel for the game and IQ are evident, making very few mistakes when on the court. Darren Harris starred in high school leading Paul VI to the National Championship, only to fall short to Flagg’s Montverde. Harris is another sharpshooter coach Jon Scheyer brought in, able to score on all three levels. He tends to do the little things as well. Harris chases rebounds and dives for loose balls. Unfortunately for big man Patrick Ngongba, he’ll be out indefinitely with a foot injury. When healthy, he owns a physical advantage over most, bruising on the inside.
Not only does Duke bear young talent, but returners and transfers looking to legitimize themselves as NBA talent. The Tyrese Proctor experience has been a roller coaster. One with tons of ups and downs. The Aussie is a talented playmaker and crafty ballhandler with a size advantage over most guards. He’s struggled to maintain consistency and confidence throughout his collegiate career. Caleb Foster should see his stock rise with an increased role this season. The tenacious combo guard thrives slashing to the rim. He’s extremely active on the defensive end, slated to be Duke’s go-to perimeter stopper this season. If he displays a consistent shot this season, Foster should hear his name called in June. Two transfers looking to break into draft conversations: Sion James from Tulane and Maliq Brown from Syracuse (this breaks my heart). Both are utility swiss-army-knives with high motors that do what is asked of them.
Triumphing Tar Heel Talent
North Carolina hasn’t been infamous for delivering successful NBA talent recently, but this Tar Heel team features several players who have a chance to carve out a role in the league.
Hubie Davis brought in the Freshmen tandem of Ian Jackson and Drake Powell- 2 top fifteen recruits. Ian Jackson is an electric and dynamic athlete. He’s a twitchy ball handler that breaks down defenders and gets downhill. He uses sharp footwork for a variety of pivot moves to create open space. Even if he doesn’t get that space, he has no problem taking and making a tough shot. Jackson extending his range is his next step to ensure he’s a lottery selection. Drake Powell is also a talented athlete. He penetrates the paint with authority employing his elevation and speed. Off-ball, he slashes towards the basket with authority. His physical prowess makes him a versatile defensive piece, able to guard both wings and guards while intercepting passing lanes. Similar to Jackson, he’ll have to extend his range to cement himself a lottery spot.
While not a perfect NBA prospect, it wouldn’t be fair to mention UNC without returning All-American and ACC Player of the Year RJ Davis. Davis has been one of the best players in college ball for years. Last season, he led the ACC in scoring (21.2 PPG) He’s an incredible ball handler and developing facilitator who’ll need to improve his shot selection while establishing he isn’t a total liability on defense.
Rounding out North Carolina’s prospect list are Cade Tyson and Jalen Washington- 2 guys who can stretch the floor at a high rate. I’m a big fan of Cade Tyson. The little brother of Denver Nugget Hunter Tyson has a similar skill set, being the prototypical off-ball sharpshooting threat that shot 46.5% from three last season. He should fill the Brady Manek/Harrison Ingram role nicely. Jalen Washington is a lengthy sharpshooter who can burst onto NBA radars with increased physicality.
Freshmen Firepower
Including the Blue Blood recruits mentioned, the ACC brings in 18 top 100 freshmen. Most notably, two five-star recruits are set to lead their programs: Jalil Bethea and Donnie Freeman.
Bethea’s a three-level scoring machine. I’ve found myself amazed by how he shifts gears, as he’s equally light on his feet as explosive. Bethea is quite crafty in all spots on the court, from finishing at the rim to creating shots in the mid-range and perimeter. He uses a wide arsenal of dribble moves to create space. Once given that space, he’ll punish the defender. He’s a sharpshooter with a quick gather and release. Bethea’s slim frame can cause problems for him at the next levels, especially on the defensive end. He’ll have to bulk up and absorb contact more sufficiently.
Standing at 6’10, 215 pounds, Donnie Freeman is everything physical teams want from a young combo forward. The IMG product is freakishly long and light on his feet. Freeman utilizes his natural tools to find success on both sides of the ball. He can effectively switch onto most players due to his agility while providing secondary rim protection. Freeman has no problem scoring inside the arc, equipped with both soft touch and relentless rim finishing. In particular, he employs a nasty, seemingly unstoppable post-fade. He fights for boards, using his leaping ability and strength. The make-or-break skill for Freeman is his three-point shooting, which as of now is underwhelming. Unlocking a consistent three-ball would allow Freeman to be used in a variety of offenses in several ways.
There are a few freshmen I’d classify as sleeper prospects. Georgia Tech’s Jaeden Mustaf intrigues me because of his bounce off the dribble and savvy finishing. He’s nowhere near an NBA shooting and has to become a better decision-maker. Joining him in Atlanta is Darrion Sutton. Hailing from Overtime Elite, Sutton is a pure slasher who defends well on the perimeter, projecting NBA potential due to his size and length. Elijah “Choppa” Moore from Syracuse puts immense pressure on defenses with an NBA-ready shot and constant movement. Meanwhile, Paul McNeil from NC State is a mid-range maestro with pro-level size.
Key Returners
Multiple ACC prospects returned to school after receiving professional feedback, looking to improve their draft stock.
After struggling to break through at Gonzaga for two seasons, Hunter Sallis took a massive step at Wake Forest becoming one of the conference's premier players and rejuvenating the program. There’s an argument to be made Sallis is already an NBA offensive talent, exhibiting the famous “pass-dribble-drive-shoot” skills. He achieves this through his bounce and creativity off the dribble. Impressive off the catch-and-shoot, he does a good job relocating along the three-point line. Sallis should make for a reliable point-of-attack defender. Possessing quick lateral movement and anticipation, he’s an asset guarding on-ball. Questions reside in his playmaking, hindering his lead guard abilities.
Jamir Watkins from Florida State does just about everything asked of him. The pesky jumbo guard led the Seminoles in points, assists, rebounds, and steals last season. Florida State historically develops elite defenders, and Watkins is no anomaly. Because of his athletic traits and high motor, he’s a versatile defender, switching onto a multitude of players while clogging passing lanes. He’ll serve as a connective piece on offense in the NBA, scoring off unwavering cuts. His awareness benefits him in this aspect, as he processes holes in defenses quickly. Compared to other prospects, his ceiling isn’t as high however boasts a high floor.
While Pittsburgh lost Bub Carrington to the draft, his running mate Jaland Lowe returns, poised for a breakout season. Similar to Bub, Lowe flashed scoring abilities from all over the court. He’s a natural shooter, converting shots on and off the dribble. Specifically, a polished pull-up game allows him to create scoring opportunities with ease. His slight frame is a red flag. Players similar in size rarely find success in the league, unless having a standout skill. Lowe hasn’t displayed this yet, capping his draft position.
Baye Ndongo excelled in his first season, notching the conference’s All-Freshmen team. While lacking overall skill and positional size, he makes up for it in heart and hustle. This guy plays the game like it's war, fighting for loose balls and boards. He serves best off-ball, making smart and ferocious cuts to the rim. Ndongo positions himself well as a help defender. The big uses his strength and verticality to challenge anyone at the rim.
Center Maxime Raynaud quickly became one of the top targets in the transfer portal last March, only for him to withdraw back to Stanford. Raynaud has shown off a unique skill set for a big man. Ulta-fluid at 7’1, he’s not afraid to put the ball on the floor and face up against a defender. He stretches the floor and finishes at the rim, enabling him to be a dual-screen threat.
Miami returns two of their top players from last year’s disappointing season: Matthew Cleveland and Nijel Pack. Cleveland, who has been on NBA radars since his freshmen season at Florida State, shines as an athlete. Combining his tools, facilitation, and finishing, Cleveland is a force in the open floor. Nijel Pack is a knockdown shooter with range that dealt with injury issues last season. Being under 6 feet hinders Pack’s NBA potential and he must make a drastic playmaking jump to enter draft conversations.
Transfers Turning the Tide
Several teams capitalized on the entropy of the transfer portal this offseason. While most acquisitions were role players whose impact will be felt at the college level, some have the potential to be NBA contributors.
Wake Forest added former Five-Star forward Omaha Biliew. Biliew spent the majority of his time at Iowa State off the court, only notching 147 total minutes. He should see a massive uptick in playing time this season, slotted to be a starting forward for the Demon Deacons. Biliew showcases his athleticism through his energetic play style. He uses his strength and vertical pop to absorb contact and finish at the rim. These traits allow him to play as a secondary rim protector as well, thriving in help defense. Overall, his skills are raw. He lacks a consistent shot and handle, making him a nonthreat outside the paint. Any perimeter skills he showed were in short flashes, suggesting that with more opportunity, he can thrive.
Following stints at Siena and Oklahoma, Javian McCollum finds himself as Georgia Tech’s primary ball handler and scorer for the upcoming season. McCollum has a gravity to him due to his microwave scoring and initiation. He scores in bunches off the dribble using a variety of step-backs and bursts. A key facet of his game is his ability to dish. He’s flaunted inventive passes and makes advanced reads, getting his teammates open. Because he’s so undersized, he’s had a hard time breaking onto draft boards.
Louisville completely reset their roster- again. The Cardinals added 12 players to their roster, headlined by Terrence Edwards Jr. Edwards led James Madison to a 32-4 record last season averaging 17.2 PPG. One of the most highly touted prospects in the portal, teams saw his unique, multi-dimensional scoring abilities. He shines as an off-ball scorer. Constantly moving, he gets to his spots and finishes plays. His open-court game is impressive as well, being a fastbreak starter that fills lanes correctly. He’s proven to be a capable shooter from everywhere on the court. Polishing his defensive skills such as screen navigation and dealing with physicality is Edwards’ next step in his development.
Quick Hit Sleepers
The son of former NBA player Peja Stojakovic, Andrej Stojakovic plays very similarly to his father. He’s got a sweet stroke with a rapid release and balanced base. After transferring from Stanford, he looks to make massive strides for the California Golden Bears. He’ll serve as one of their primary scoring options and should receive NBA interest for his shooting.
Wake Forest’s Cameron Hildreth enters his senior year joining Hunter Sallis in the backcourt. Hildreth is a prototypical off-ball shooter who’s a bundle of energy. His competitive and confident nature should appeal to NBA teams.
Syracuse’s Chris Bell was one of the ACC’s best shooters last season, finishing third in three-point percentage in the entire conference. Additionally, he’s a wirey 6’7 with potential to fill out. His lack of physicality and on-ball creation have made him a one-dimensional prospect. Bell has more opportunity than he ever had for the Orange and should be one of their go-to scoring options.
Both Rodney Brown Jr and Tobi Lawal of Virginia Tech possess the physical tools to make massive strides in their games and burst onto NBA radars. Rodney Brown Jr is a 6’6, 180-pound sniper who defends multiple positions that saw little time at California. If you just watched mixtapes, you’d probably think Lawal is a Top-10 pick. He jumps out of the gym with a near 50-inch vertical. Relentless on defense, he plays above the rim and on the perimeter. While he presents to be a lob threat on offense, he struggles to create on the perimeter.
Former PAC-12 Sixth Man of the Year Koren Johnson was part of Louisville’s massive transfer class. At Washington, Johnson excelled as an on-ball scorer. He’s shifty and quick, possessing extended range. Additionally, he applies adequate on-ball pressure. Growing as a decision-maker and facilitator is Johnson’s next development step.
Awesome read, thanks guys 💯