The ACC's resurgence won't be determined only by how many teams reach the NCAA Tournament.
It will also depend on stars.
Duke added one of the country's best transfers in John Blackwell. Louisville landed an elite defensive big man in Flory Bidunga and an experienced point guard in Jackson Shelstad. Virginia returns first-team All-ACC forward Thijs De Ridder, while Miami has one of the country's more intriguing young backcourts.
There are established players here, but there are also sophomores and freshmen whose national profiles could change dramatically over the next several months.
Here are 10 ACC players capable of becoming national stars in 2026-27.
1. John Blackwell, Duke
Blackwell doesn't need to prove he can score at the high-major level.
He already has.
The Wisconsin transfer scored 1,505 points during three seasons with the Badgers and averaged 18.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals last season. Now he moves onto one of college basketball's largest stages.
Duke won't need Blackwell to dominate the basketball every possession. Foster, Sarr, Boozer and an elite freshman class give Scheyer plenty of alternatives. That could actually make Blackwell more efficient. If he becomes Duke's dependable late-game scorer while the Blue Devils remain near the top of the national rankings, he could become one of college basketball's most recognizable guards.
2. Flory Bidunga, Louisville
Bidunga arrives at Louisville after already establishing himself as an elite interior defender.
At Kansas, he averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks while shooting 64% from the field. His combination of explosiveness, rebounding and rim protection should translate perfectly to Kelsey's system.
Louisville also has enough guard talent to create easy opportunities for him. Shelstad can operate ball screens, Trimble can attack the paint and the Cardinals have shooting around the perimeter. Bidunga won't need to manufacture difficult post touches to score. If Louisville becomes one of the country's best teams, his defensive impact could make him one of the most important big men in America.
3. Thijs De Ridder, Virginia
De Ridder already looks like a national star statistically.
The Virginia forward averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds last season while shooting better than 50% from the field and earning first-team All-ACC honors. He scored at least 20 points 12 times and became the centerpiece of a 30-win team.
Now comes the next step. Virginia returns enough talent that opponents won't be able to focus solely on De Ridder, but Odom can still run the offense through him in critical moments. Another efficient season for an ACC contender could move De Ridder from conference star to national All-America candidate.
4. Jackson Shelstad, Louisville
Shelstad arrives with exactly the type of experience Louisville needs.
The former Oregon guard has played three college seasons and averaged 15.6 points and 4.9 assists during an injury-shortened 2025-26 campaign. He now takes control of a Louisville roster loaded with finishers.
The partnership with Bidunga could become particularly difficult to defend. Shelstad can create off the dribble, shoot and find rolling big men, while Bidunga provides an explosive target around the rim. If Louisville challenges Duke for the ACC title, Shelstad could become one of the guards most responsible for making it happen.
5. Acaden Lewis, Miami
Lewis had an outstanding freshman season at Villanova.
He averaged 12.2 points, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals while setting Villanova freshman records with 176 assists and 63 steals. Those numbers demonstrate exactly why Miami pursued him.
The Hurricanes don't need Lewis to become a volume scorer. They need him to organize an offense containing Henderson, Cyril, Gaskins and several other talented pieces. If Lewis becomes one of the country's better point guards while Miami competes near the top of the ACC, his national profile could rise rapidly.
6. Shelton Henderson, Miami
Henderson may be positioned for one of the ACC's biggest sophomore jumps.
He averaged 13.8 points and 4.9 rebounds as a freshman while playing with the physicality of someone considerably older. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, he creates difficult matchup decisions for opposing wings.
Lewis' arrival could make Henderson even more dangerous because he won't have to create every opportunity himself. If his perimeter shooting and decision-making improve, Henderson has the physical tools to become an All-ACC player and one of the league's most recognizable young stars.
7. Johann Grünloh, Virginia
Grünloh can change a game without having a play called for him.
The 7-foot center blocked 80 shots last season and became the defensive anchor for a Virginia team that won 30 games. His ability to protect the rim gives Odom freedom elsewhere defensively because teammates know Grünloh is waiting behind them.
The intriguing part is his offensive ceiling. He averaged 7.1 points and 5.2 rebounds last season, leaving plenty of room for statistical growth. If his offensive production takes a significant step while his defense remains elite, Grünloh could become one of the country's premier two-way centers.
8. Neo Avdalas, North Carolina
Avdalas is one of the most unusual players in the conference.
At 6-foot-9, he possesses legitimate guard skills and averaged 12.1 points and 4.6 assists as a freshman at Virginia Tech. He now moves to North Carolina and will develop under Malone, whose NBA background makes the partnership especially intriguing.
Avdalas still needs to improve his efficiency, particularly against high-level conference defenses. But players with his combination of size and playmaking ability are rare. If Malone helps him turn those flashes into consistent production, Avdalas could become both an ACC star and a serious NBA prospect.
9. Dame Sarr, Duke
Sarr's opportunity is different from several players on this list because Duke doesn't need him to become its leading scorer.
What the Blue Devils need is for the 6-foot-8 sophomore to become a complete two-way wing.
Sarr's size and versatility give Scheyer enormous lineup flexibility, and his first college season provided valuable experience. The next step is consistency. If Sarr becomes a reliable shooter, secondary creator and multi-positional defender, he'll impact winning in ways that extend beyond his scoring average. On a team expected to play deep into March, that can create plenty of national attention.
10. Kiyan Anthony, Syracuse
Anthony enters his sophomore season with both opportunity and enormous attention already attached to his name.
The 6-foot-5 guard is officially back on Syracuse's 2026-27 roster as McNamara begins his first season leading the Orange. Anthony will be part of a young core that also includes Sadiq White Jr. and Calvin Russell III.
The sophomore leap will come down to efficiency and consistency. Anthony has the scoring instincts to produce big nights, but becoming a national star requires impacting games even when the shot isn't falling. If he becomes a more complete offensive player while Syracuse improves, his profile could explode during his second college season.
The ACC has names worth knowing
Blackwell, Bidunga and De Ridder enter the season with established high-major production. Shelstad and Lewis are proven guards stepping into major roles on contenders.
The most interesting possibilities may come from the younger group.
Henderson, Sarr and Anthony all have opportunities to make significant sophomore jumps, while Grünloh could become one of the country's most disruptive centers.
If several of them hit, the ACC won't lack star power in 2026-27.
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