ACC basketball is among the best in the entire country. Who are the stars on each team in the conference heading into the 2017-18 season?
Every season, ACC basketball takes up several spots in the preseason top-25. That will be no different this upcoming season. In fact, Notre Dame, Miami, North Carolina, Louisville, and Duke are all ranked in my preseason top-25, which was updated after the NBA Draft in late June (Quick update: With the signing of Marvin Bagley, Duke would jump to #1 in these rankings).
With all of these teams taking up major headlines, it is important to note the stars that each of these teams has. It is impossible to win a conference or national title without star players, and the ACC is not short on stars. Each team has several top players who can take over games in the clutch and each of these players will make highlight plays this season.
In the past several years, we have seen a ton of talent come through the ACC as “one-and-done” players and we will once again, but no freshman are considered for this list of the top star on every team in the conference. As we do not know how easily these players will translate their game to the collegiate level, only returning players are considered to be stars on their respective teams.
For these stars, there are several questions entering this season: Which players will be able to carry their team to the NCAA Tournament? Which players will have their team contending for a conference title this year? Which players can assert themselves as National Player of the Year candidates? And, of the course, the most important question of all: Can this star lead his team to the National Championship?
Let’s take a look at each ACC team’s star and how far they might able to take their team during the 2017-18 campaign.
Boston College Eagles – JR Jerome Robinson
Last season, Jerome Robinson had a breakout season. Even though he played just 0.6 minutes per game more than he did as a freshman, Robinson upped his scoring average from 11.7 PPG to 18.6 PPG. This improvement made him the leading scorer on the team and the primary scoring option.
The 6’7″ wing is hoping to have another major season coming up as a junior, and for Boston College, they need him to. The Eagles have not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2008-09 and they have not had a winning season in any of the past six seasons. After going just 9-23 a season ago, it does not seem likely that their fortune will change this year.
Yet, with Robinson leading the roster over the next two seasons, at least they have a star player to play through. In addition, the Eagles have brought in graduate transfer Deonteae Hawkins for this season. Hawkins averaged 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season for Illinois State, and that should help take some of the scoring burden off of Robinson.
These next two seasons will be dictated by the play of Jerome Robinson as the on-court leader though. It would not be a shock if Robinson eclipsed the 20+ PPG mark this season, especially if his efficiency from three increases. Even though Robinson attempted 5.1 3-pointers per game last season, he was only 33.3% from deep.
Clemson Tigers – JR Shelton Mitchell
Without Jaron Blossomgame on the team this year, Clemson will have to search for a new star. Even though Mitchell has only spent one year with the program (he transferred from Vanderbilt after his freshman season), he will be the go-to-guy as a junior. Mitchell was the second leading scorer on the team last season at 10.8 points per game and he did so on very solid efficiency.
A 45.9% shooting from the field, it was Mitchell’s 45.3% shooting from 3-point land that jumped off the page. Although he only attempted 2.2 threes per game, this is an impressive clip that will hopefully carry over to this next season. The primary scoring option for Clemson in 2017-18, Mitchell will need to rely more heavily on his 3-point shot in addition to attacking the paint. Mitchell also averaged a modest 3.6 assists per game (versus 2.0 turnovers) last season, which just goes to show his ability to find open teammates.
Clemson as a program is in a bit of no-man’s-land right now. Even though they have finished each of the past four seasons with winning records, they have fallen short of reaching the NCAA Tournament each time. In fact, they have not gone dancing since 2010-11. Without Blossomgame as the star, Clemson will likely take a small step back this season, but they could still hover around the .500 area.
Duke Blue Devils – SR Grayson Allen
As always, expectations are high for the Duke Blue Devils entering this season. They have the top ranked recruiting class in the country and are going to likely be the preseason #1 team in the entire country. On top of their youth, though, they are led by senior Grayson Allen. A constant source of controversy over the past few seasons, Allen’s talent is sometimes overshadowed by his other actions.
In the typical game, Allen is an extremely talented scorer and possibly a future NBA player. Although Allen had a clear down season in 2016-17, he was lifted up by teammate Luke Kennard, who is now a member of the Detroit Pistons. Without Kennard, Allen will look to return to the 20+ points per game production that he put up as a sophomore.
Behind Allen, Duke is National Championship contender with lots of pieces. Marvin Bagley, Trevon Duval, Wendell Carter, and Gary Trent Jr. will be there to help out Allen as Duke looks to make a return run to the Final Four. It would really be something if Allen, one of the most polarizing characters (whether warranted or not) in all of college hoops, was to start and end his collegiate career with National Championships.
Florida State Seminoles – JR Terance Mann
Florida State lost a lot of talent this offseason. Each of their three leading scorers (Dwayne Bacon, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Johnathan Issac), are now playing professionally and the Seminoles will likely take a step back from their #3 seed season a year ago. On the bright side, they return junior Terance Mann in addition to bringing in one of the top recruiting classes in the country.
M.J. Walker and Ikechukwu Obiagu are both top-100 recruits according to 247Sports and they will help Mann keep the Seminoles from dipping too far this season. As a sophomore in 2016-17, Mann averaged 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. While on the court, Mann was rarely looked at as the go-to-scorer, but he could be this year.
After shooting a staggering 57.6% from the field last season, the 6’6″ Mann will look to keep up his efficient play while being a leader on the floor. With an otherwise young team, Mann will be poised to take on a major role as a junior and he can hopefully keep the Seminoles in the NCAA Tournament conversation as the season progresses.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets – SO Josh Okogie
Last season, Georgia Tech was one of the biggest surprises in the country. Although they did not make the NCAA Tournament, Josh Pastner was named the ACC Coach of the Year due to their 21-16 season. Still, the Yellow Jackets have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2009-10. Could this change this season?
Ben Lammers (14.2 PPG, 9.2 RPG) is a great returning player for Coach Pastner, but sophomore guard Josh Okogie could break out to be the real deal this season. A surprising freshman last season, Okogie averaged 16.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. With a summer of development as a player, it would not be a shock to see Okogie go over 20 points per game and content for the scoring title in the AAC.
Only 14 freshmen averaged at least 16 points per game last season and Okogie was one of them. Of those 14, seven of them were first-round picks in the NBA Draft. That is some pretty elite company for Okogie to be in. Returning as one of the top sophomores in the AAC, Okogie could pair up nicely with Lammers to get the Yellow Jackets back to the NCAA Tournament.
Louisville Cardinals – SR Quentin Snider
One of the best all-around point guards in the entire country, Quentin Snider is nationally underrated. Along with teammate Deng Adel, Louisville has one of the best duos in the country. As always, Rick Pitino has a national title contending roster entering the 2017-18 season. Although not the most efficient scorer in the country (just 38.5% from the field), Snider is crafty in getting his points and shows up in the biggest games.
For the season, Snider averaged 12.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game. These numbers might not jump off the page as the best player on a national contender, but Snider is arguably the best floor general in the entire nation. While dishing out 4.1 assists per game, Snider only turned the ball over 1.5 times per game. Of the 42 players to average more than four assists per game last season, Snider committed the 7th least amount of turnovers per game.
This effectiveness with the ball in his hands makes him extremely valuable in big games. If an opponent is waiting for Louisville to make a mistake, it isn’t going to happen when Snider has the ball. The Cardinals fell in just the second round of last year’s NCAA Tournament, but watch out for Snider to have a breakout season and lead Louisville much deeper in this year’s Big Dance.
Miami Hurricanes – SO Bruce Brown
Miami is on the rise this season. Head coach Jim Larranaga is moving the Hurricanes back towards national title contention thanks to some of the top recruits in the country. In addition to the return of Ja’Quan Newton and incoming top-100 recruits Lonnie Walker and Chris Lykes, sophomore Bruce Brown is poised for a massive season.
Last year, Brown averaged 11.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game for the Hurricanes. The expectation for this season is that Brown will increase his production across the board as a sophomore and join Newton and Walker to form one of the most dynamic trios in the entire country. Brown shot 45.9% from the field last season and can increase his efficiency from 3-point land (34.7% from deep in 2016-17).
Even though they are very young, Miami has the potential to be one of the best teams in the country this season. Led by Brown’s expected advancement in play, Miami can compete to win the ACC with Duke, Louisville, and others. Miami will certainly be a preseason top-25 team and they will be a very tough team to beat.
North Carolina Tar Heels – SR Joel Berry II
Coming off a NCAA Championship in 2016-17, Joel Berry will be the star of North Carolina this season. In the offseason, the Tar Heels lost Tony Bradley, Justin Jackson, Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, and Nate Britt. This is a lot of talent to lose, but if any team can make up for it, North Carolina can. Luke Maye and Theo Pinson will have to take on much bigger roles this season, but it will be Joel Berry that will need to take that next step for UNC to stay in the national title conversation.
A possible National Player of the Year contender, Joel Berry won the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player Award in 2016-17. After averaging 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game last season, there is still room for Berry’s game to expand. After having his best 3-point shooting season last year as a junior (38.4% on 6.0 attempts per game), Berry is a talented scorer. Despite being slightly undersized, Berry can get into the lane and is very creative in maneuvering around the giants to get his shots up.
For North Carolina to be one of the top teams in the ACC, Berry will need to be at his best. For the first time in a while, the Tar Heels are lacking depth in the frontcourt and they will need to rely on their guards more than normal. Will Berry be up to the challenge? That is the question for this season.
NC State Wolfpack – SR Abdul-Malik Abu
After losing Dennis Smith Jr. to the NBA Draft, the NC State Wolfpack are in need of a new star. After back-to-back double-digit per game seasons, Abdul-Malik Abu will likely emerge to be that star this season. For new head coach Kevin Keatts, Abu will be the primary scoring option on the team and he could average upwards of 15 points per game.
After back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since the mid-90’s, Keatts will be looking to turn this program around fast. Yet, entering this year, the roster does not look like it will compete for a NCAA Tournament bid. In addition to losing Dennis Smith Jr., the team lost second leading scorer Maverick Rowan, as he has gone on to play professional basketball.
Abdul-Malik Abu enters the season as the leading scorer of the returning players and he will be the go-to offensive player on the team. Lavar Batts will be an impact freshman to help carry the team along with Abu, but it seems unlikely that they will make a NCAA Tournament run. Watch out for Abu to have an outstanding senior year, though.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish – SR Bonzie Colson
Another potential National Player of the Year candidate, Bonzie Colson is the leader of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. A double-double machine, Colson averaged 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season. Despite being just 6’5″, Colson is a tremendous rebounder and one of the most aggressive players in the conference.
In addition to his rebounding, Colson is the heart and soul of the Notre Dame offense. While shooting 52.6% from the field, Colson ranked fourth in the conference last season in field goal percentage. While mostly an interior scorer, Colson also managed to be 26-for-60 (43.3%) from 3-point land, which is a very impressive mark.
Along with returners Rex Pflueger, Matt Ryan, Temple Gibbs, and, most importantly, Matt Farrell, Notre Dame should be very deep this season and one of the top teams in the ACC. The Fighting Irish will enter the 2017-18 season as a likely preseason top-25 team. Head coach Mike Brey has made Notre Dame into one of the top programs in the country, and they have made the NCAA Tournament in seven of the last eight seasons.
Pittsburgh Panthers – SR Ryan Luther
Pittsburgh is in a very tough spot. The team missed the NCAA Tournament last season and is losing a lot of their top talent. Jamel Artis, Sheldon Jeter, Chris Jones, and Michael Young have now graduated and Cameron Johnson has transferred. With all of that talent gone, it is possible that Pittsburgh finishes last in the ACC this season.
In order to avoid that potential fate, senior Ryan Luther will need to have a breakout season. As a junior, he averaged 5.7 points and 3.9 rebounds per game on a solid 53.8% shooting. Still, he played in barely over 20 minutes per game last season and he will be needed to play around 30 per game as a senior. Will he be up to the challenge?
This will certainly be a tough year for Pittsburgh and it seems incredibly unlikely that they make a tournament run. Still, the question remains this: How long will it take head coach Kevin Stallings to get the program back on track? This will be his second year with the program and this year could get ugly.
Syracuse Orange – SO Tyus Battle
One of the best young players in the entire conference, it will be up Tyus Battle to keep Syracuse basketball afloat this season. With Taurean Thompson transferring, this could be a very rough season. This does not look like a tournament team in the preseason, but that doesn’t mean Battle cannot try his best.
As a freshman, Battle posted 11.3 points per game on 43.3% shooting from the floor. As a sophomore, he will be the primary (and secondary) scoring option this season for the Orange. Last season, Syracuse missed the NCAA Tournament despite going 19-15 on the year. This season could be much worse though. They are losing plenty of talent in the form of Thompson, Tyler Lydon, Andrew White, and John Gillon.
Battle will need to have an incredible sophomore season just to make up for some of the talent that the team is losing. In addition to Battle having a great year, several other members of the team will need to step up if Syracuse is to get back to the NCAA Tournament.
Virginia Cavaliers – SO Kyle Guy
Virginia has always been a team focused on the defensive end of the ball. With that being said, the team has still had some very good bucket-getters in the last few years. For the first time in a while, head coach Tony Bennett will be without both Malcolm Brogdon and London Perrantes this season. Without one of those go-to, established stars, Bennett will have to turn to one of his youngsters to put up points.
After a solid freshman campaign, sophomore Kyle Guy will likely be the man that Bennett turns to for points this season. Guy averaged 7.5 points per game in 18.6 minutes per game while spending the majority of his time sitting behind the arc. In fact, half of his shot attempts came from 3-point land last season. On the bright side, he was electric from deep as a freshman, dropping in an insane 49.5% of his threes.
This season, the former top-50 recruit will need to flash a more well-rounded offensive game and possibly even double his scoring production from a season ago. This year looks like it will be a down season for Virginia and they might even miss the NCAA Tournament. The Cavaliers have gone dancing in each of the last four seasons, but they will need a breakout year from Guy to make it back this season.
Virginia Tech Hokies – JR Justin Robinson
Possibly the deepest roster in the entire ACC, Virginia Tech can compete with the best of the ACC this season. After averaging 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game last season, Justin Robinson is one of the keys to the Hokies’ offense. The team runs lots of possessions through him due to his ability to distribute as well as score on his own.
Last season, Robinson shot a respectable 41.1% from the field, but it is his 3-point shooting that can use the most work. Although a solid shooter from beyond the arc (35.2% on 3.3 attempts per game), taking the next step closer to the 40% mark will improve his offensive game dramatically.
For head coach Buzz Williams, having incredible depth will be a great thing during the rugged conference schedule. Players will get tired throughout the year, but Williams should always have fresh players thanks to his deep roster. Yet, in the NCAA Tournament, he is going to need to have a go-to-player in clutch situations. It looks like Robinson can be that guy.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons – JR Bryant Crawford
Wake Forest might be a program on the rise in the ACC, but they still have a long way to go before becoming a contender in the conference. After losing star forward John Collins to the NBA, head coach Danny Manning will need a new star. Incoming top-50 recruit Chaundee Brown will certainly make an instant impact, but returning junior Bryant Crawford will be the star this season.
Playing second fiddle in the offense to Collins last season, Crawford had a quiet-but-spectacular season. As the primary playmaker in the offense, Crawford was an excellent scorer and distributor. He averaged 16.2 points and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 43.8% from the field. To put this in perspective, NC State guard Dennis Smith Jr. was the only other ACC player to average at least 16 points and five assists per game last season.
Despite losing Collins, Crawford will have a new partner-in-crime in Brown this upcoming season. Combining those two guards with Keyshawn Woods, another double-digit scoring guard last season, will make for a dangerous trio of guards in the ACC. With those three running the team, the Demon Deacons might be able to snag a couple of major upsets this year.
Next: Who are the stars in the AAC?
ACC basketball is home to some of the best talents in the entire country. Will several teams likely starting in the preseason top-25, these stars are going to be making headlines all season long. If you do not know their names now, you will by the end of the season, so take note.