ACC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season

Mar 27, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels pose for a photo after the Tar Heels defeated the St. Peters Peacocks in the finals of the East regional of the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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ACC Basketball Pittsburgh Panthers forward John Hugley Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Pittsburgh Panthers

No team in the ACC had more roster turnover than the Panthers, who lost and gained eight players this offseason. They have two main returning players in double-digit scoring guard Jamarius Burton, as well as big man John Hugley, who led the team with 14.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg last season.

The rest of the roster has been completely turned over and on paper, they’re better than the previous group. The question is by how much? A lot of that will depend on Pittsburgh’s newest commit, Dior Johnson, who was once a five-star and top-10 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class.

But between transferring to 10 different high schools and already being committed to two other programs (Oregon and Syracuse), his stock has dropped a fair amount. If he looks like that surefire NBA prospect that folks had believed, Johnson could singlehandedly change the program’s ceiling for next season.

Another point guard the team added this offseason was Nelly Cummings, who started three years at Colgate and averaged over 14 ppg and shot over 35% from deep. He and Johnson give Pittsburgh true point guards to lead the roster.

The rest of the newcomers all have potential and questions. 6’7 combo forward Blake Hinston was a double-digit scorer at Ole Miss but hasn’t played in two years. Marquette guard transfer Greg Elliott has dealt with injuries, while four-star incoming freshmen forwards Jorge and Guillermo Díaz Graham make take some time before being impact players in the ACC.

The Panthers have the talent for a top-half finish but will need a lot of things to go right, starting with good Johnson is as the starting point guard.