ACC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

CHAPEL HILL, NC - FEBRUARY 25: Leaky Black #1, Armando Bacot #5, R.J. Davis #4 and Caleb Love #2 of the North Carolina Tar Heels walk away from the camera during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers on February 25, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 71-63. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /

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ACC Basketball Wake Forest Demon Deacons (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

5. Wake Forest

In the 2021-22 season, Alondes Williams transferred to Wake Forest and won ACC Player of the Year. This season, Tyree Appleby transferred to Wake and led the ACC in scoring and assists, finishing second in ACC Player of the Year voting.

Transfer guards should be lining up to play for Steve Forbes, who has already seemingly mastered the transfer portal. Wake’s improving NIL situation will also help that cause.

The Demon Deacons can return six of their top-eight scorers, led by Damari Monsanto (13.3 PPG), Cameron Hildreth (12.4 PPG), and Andrew Carr (10.7 PPG). Bobi Klintman also showed flashes toward the end of the season and could become a high-level contributor in an increased role.

Monsanto had season-ending surgery for a torn left patella tendon in February. He previously tore his Achilles in 2021, so he unfortunately but helpfully knows what the recovery process looks like. Monsanto is a lethal shooter with almost unlimited range, giving Wake Forest a microwave-type player who can space the floor and spark a run at any time.

Marist transfer Jao Ituka will also help replace some of Appleby’s departing production in the backcourt after missing most of last season with an injury.

Expect Forbes to be active in the portal yet again, and if we’ve learned anything from his time at Wake Forest – do not underestimate the Deacs’ incoming transfers, whoever they end up being.