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 Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

1. Duke

Tyrese Proctor and Mark Mitchell have confirmed their returns to Durham, giving Jon Scheyer two returning starters, at a minimum. Jeremy Roach’s status is up in the air. If he returns, Duke could be preseason No. 1.

Proctor’s return is a game-changer for Duke. His creativity and skill as a shot-creator and playmaker will make him a projected lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Proctor will be a preseason All-ACC player with All-American potential. Seriously. He’s that good.

As usual, Duke is bringing in a top-two recruiting class stacked with five five-stars, per the 247Sports Composite. Here’s a brief rundown on all five incoming freshmen:

Mackenzie Mgbako (No. 7 overall) is a sweet-shooting versatile forward with an NBA skillset. A projected first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Sean Stewart (No. 13) is a physical, athletic forward who will play minutes at the five for Scheyer in the 2023-24 season. An elite rebounder and versatile defender.

Jared McCain (No. 15) is a skilled combo guard who has the basketball IQ and shooting to make him a potential lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. McCain has arguably the highest upside of Duke’s five freshmen.

Caleb Foster (No. 17) is a 6-foot-5 combo guard who will see most of his minutes at the two, especially if Roach returns. That said, Foster has the ball-handling and playmaking abilities to be a creator within Duke’s offense.

TJ Power (No. 20) was one of the hottest names on the 2022 grassroots circuit. Power profiles as a skilled and traditionally athletic stretch-four.

Next. WTE power rankings for 2023-24. dark

Duke has had plenty of success with true centers, but Scheyer’s 2023-24 squad will be loaded with playmaking guards, shooting, and versatile forwards. Even if Roach does leave, the Blue Devils will be a preseason top-1o team and the likely favorites to win the ACC for what would be the 14th time in the last 25 years.