ACC Basketball: Analyzing each team's returning impact players for '23-24

ACC Basketball: Analyzing each team’s returning impact players for 2023-24

By Cade Haak | Jul 20, 2023

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils hoist the trophy after a win against the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke won 59-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

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ACC Basketball Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets guard Dallan Coleman Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Georgia Tech

Damon Stoudamire is taking the place of Josh Pastner after another struggle-filled season for Georgia Tech, and while doing so he’s retaining much of the roster that went 15-18 last season. Included in the returning talent for Coach Stoudamire are four of the team’s top five scorers from a year ago. These four players are Kyle Sturdivant, Lance Terry, Deebo Coleman, and Miles Kelly.

Kyle Sturdivant and Deebo Coleman are both guards that hovered around the mark of 9 points per game last season. While Sturdivant is a better passer due in part to running the one guard position Coleman has proven to be the better rebounder and defender at the guard position. It is likely that both of them will be able to play a large amount of time together on the court with Coleman moved to more of a wing position due to his height and length, but it should be interesting to see how Coach Stoudamire handles the guard-heavy rotation.

Lance Terry is another one of the many guards returning to play under the new coach. Terry split starts last season with Sturdivant, but now with a new coach at the helm, it is unsure who will solidify themselves as the team’s starting point. But with the way last season looked it seems likely Terry will start the season in the role. Terry averaged just over 10 points per game while adding 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

Miles Kelly is the final guard returning that had a big impact on last year’s team. Kelly is now in position to be the team’s leader in his second straight season. In his sophomore year, Kelly showed one of the biggest improvements that we saw in any singular player where he was able to skyrocket over 10 more points per game average over his freshman year, While also showing large improvements in rebounding and defense.

Last season, Kelly’s height at the guard slot proved to be troublesome for many defenders as he was able to average over 14 points per game. Kelly showed his love for the long ball all season long averaging 7.1 attempts per game and knocking down 38 percent from beyond the arc. His ability to shoot over smaller defender as well as create space revealed itself early in the season, and if he shows more of the same he could be a great offensive catalyst for Damon Stoudamire.