ACC Basketball: 2024 offseason grades for all 18 programs

Stanford Cardinal - Grade: C-

Stanford made the decision to part ways with longtime HC Jerod Haase, replacing him with former Washington State head coach, Kyle Smith. He was known for doing more with less in the Pac-12 and WCC days and will have to do the same at Stanford, which is at a disadvantage in the transfer portal era, due to its high academic admission standards.

The good news is that the team was able to bring back its best player, Maxime Raynaud. After leading the team with 15.5 ppg and 9.6 rpg last season, the 7’1 center originally entered the transfer portal but opted to return, one of a couple who ultimately did. 

The other two notable players on the roster comes from the portal. Jaylen Blakes started some games at Duke and without the backcourt logjam, could be a breakout candidate at a new ACC team. Chisom Okpara comes over from Harvard after putting up 16.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg as a sophomore.

Overall, Stanford still has questions in its backcourt and a lack of overall depth. But again, there are just limitations they’ll have to deal with. Keeping Raynaud should keep them competitive if nothing else but unless transfer Derin Saran can be a surprise guard contributor, they could struggle in the conference.