The ACC is rapidly reaping the rewards of a robust efficiency within the teaching carousel. NC State appears primed to compete instantly after touchdown McNeese’s Will Wade. Virginia’s roster makeover appears distinctive in comparison with final season’s debacle now that Ryan Odom is in cost. Nowhere to go however up for Miami, proper? Jai Lucas has collected actual expertise in Coral Gables..
It was sorely wanted for one of many history-laden basketball leagues that has slowly however absolutely slipped to the again of the pack within the arms race.
With rosters beginning to settle, tiers present a preferable approach of contextualizing the ACC’s outlook, particularly on this 18-team league.
- Tier 1 – Title contenders: Fairly minimize and dry. I believe these groups have the upside to win the title. Not simply make the second weekend. Not simply win three in a row due to a pleasant draw. Six straight, do-or-die wins.
- Tier 2 – High 25 caliber membership: These groups have accrued loads of expertise and must be safely within the NCAA Event subject immediately, however they’ve a number of flaws that would preserve them out of the highest tier.
- Tier 3 – Bubblicious: A Large Dance look is within the vary of potential outcomes, however the NIT, the Crown (or worse) looms if issues fizzle.
- Tier 4 – The basement: These groups have a slim likelihood of creating the Large Dance until one thing drastically clicks or they make a late splash in recruiting.
Rating Large East basketball groups by tiers: Can anybody catch UConn and St. John’s in 2025-26 season?
Isaac Trotter
Let’s check out final season’s ACC standings after which dive in:
2024-25 ACC standings
Tier 1: Nationwide championship contenders
Louisville
2024-25 report: 27-8
Postseason: Misplaced in first spherical
| PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP |
| G Mikel Brown Jr. (247Sports No. 6 participant in Class of 2025) |
| G Ryan Conwell (Xavier switch) |
| G Isaac McKneely (Virginia switch) |
| F J’Vonne Hadley* |
| F Sananda Fru (Worldwide signee) |
Returning starters indicated by *
High bench choices: G Adrian Wooley, F Kasean Pryor, F Aly Khalifa, F Khani Rooths, G Kobe Rodgers, F Vangelis Zougris
The news: Louisville’s offense goes to turbo-smash. Pat Kelsey has infinite lineup versatility after constructing a backcourt that’s the envy of everybody in faculty basketball circles. Brown is a five-star freshman who’s a terrific playmaker, and he is surrounded by two particular shot-makers in Conwell and McKneely. 100 3-pointers apiece for these two studs? It isn’t not possible on this 3-point-happy scheme. If paint touches are laborious to return by, Kelsey can insert Wooley, who’s going to get to the rim by land or by sea.
The Cardinals can rotate dudes all through this frontcourt. Fru isn’t any typical freshman. The 21-year-old German import is armed with 7-foot-5 wingspan, and figures to be an affect defender. 5-out offense with Pryor or Khalifa (when he will get eligible)? Positive. 4-out, one-in with Fru? Positive. Scheme versatility is all the pieces today, and Louisville has it. Oh, and Hadley can be again to do all of the successful stuff. There’s only a stunning mixture of veterans (six of Louisville’s top-eight gamers are 21+) and the NBA expertise you’ll want to go big-game looking.
Louisville appears like Louisville once more, and that is a stupendous sight for this sport.
Duke
2024-25 report: 35-4
Postseason: Misplaced in Last 4
| PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP |
| G Caleb Foster |
| G Isaiah Evans |
| G/F Dame Sarr (Worldwide signee) |
| F Cameron Boozer (247Sports No. 3 participant in Class of 2025) |
| F Patrick Ngongba |
High bench choices: F Maliq Brown, G Darren Harris, F Nikolas Khamenia, G Cayden Boozer, F Sebastian Wilkins
The news: Duke must be in each dialogue for one of the best frontcourt in faculty basketball. Cameron Boozer is simply particular. He is a unique participant than Cooper Flagg, however Boozer ought to have an unlimited affect as a ready-made stud who impacts the sport in roughly 1,759 other ways. Boozer ought to waltz into 16-and-8 an evening with out breaking a lot of a sweat, and Duke has insulated him within the frontcourt with Ngongba and Brown, who each do various things nicely. Ngongba is a candidate for an enormous manufacturing spike as a low-post monster who can create. Brown’s playmaking, deflections and scheme versatility defensively assist his worth skyrocket. There is a purpose Duke had a scorching +26.6 web ranking when he was on the ground final yr.
There aren’t fairly as many positive issues on this Duke roster in comparison with final yr and Cedric Coward staying within the NBA Draft stings, however Jon Scheyer’s offense is layered, distinctive and approach higher than armchair coaches would counsel. Foster must get his swagger again as a lead guard, however it’s not laborious to check Scheyer constructing an elite offense with this frontcourt surrounded by a motion shooter like Evans and toolsy wings like Wilkins, Khamenia and Sarr.
Duke is making a big guess on positional measurement and expertise. Duke, but once more, has a Last 4-caliber squad.
Tier 2: High 25 caliber membership
North Carolina
2024-25 report: 23-14
Postseason: Misplaced in first spherical
High bench choices: G Jonathan Powell, G Jaydon Younger, G Isaiah Denis, G Derek Dixon, F James Brown
The news: The general public disdain for UNC’s roster-building might have gone a bit too far. Now that every one the items are in place, the image is beginning to make actual sense. The concept of trotting out lineups with Evans, Bogavac, Stevenson and Veesaar, who’re all solid-to-good shooters, ought to make Trimble’s drives far more efficient. This workforce has extra measurement, extra taking pictures and fewer positional overlap. The protection must be much better with Veesaar anchoring the rim, Trimble hounding defenders on the level of assault and Wilson utilizing his five-star athleticism to fly round and be a pest.
Evans is the important thing to all of this. North Carolina is asking him to do one thing he hasn’t finished but in faculty: be a main, go-to level guard. Over 25% of his 86 pick-and-roll possessions ended with a turnover final yr at Colorado State. That is a priority. The rising pains are going to be there, however he is bought a number of sport as a harmful shooter and nifty driver.
However I believe UNC has one of the best two-way middle within the ACC in Veesaar and far more lineup flexibility. That is sufficient to do critical injury on this league.
NC State
2024-25 report: 12-19
Postseason: None
High bench choices: C Paul Mbiya, G Alyn Breed, G Quadir Copeland, G Matt In a position, F Jerry Deng
The news: NC State’s protection goes to make everybody extraordinarily uncomfortable. Will Wade has a ton of switchable wings who ought to assist the Wolfpack shrink the ground, load up within the gaps and drive confusion. Get able to study triple-switching.
NC State additionally has a stud in Williams who’s out to show he is greater than only a product of Texas Tech’s excellent offensive system. Williams’ “booty-ball” brilliance is maximized by flooring spacing, and NC State has choices for that in Holloman, McNeil, In a position, Deng and even Arceneaux.
Some clunky moments offensively really feel inevitable for a new-look group. A top-25 offense most likely is not potential until younger guards like In a position and McNeil are prepared for prime time, however NC State has all of the items to comfortably make the Large Dance.
Virginia
2024-25 report: 15-17
Postseason: None
High bench choices: G Sam Lewis, G Likelihood Mallory, C Ugonna Onyenso, F Silas Barksdale
The news: Virginia employed a successful coach in Ryan Odom, handed him assets and the roster appears primed and able to go. Would you take a look at that?
This roster ought to be capable of trot out some critical five-shooter lineups because of the addition of Grunloh, a 6-foot-11 German middle who can splash pick-and-pop 3-pointers and defend the rim at a excessive stage, however Thomas is the true game-changer. The San Francisco switch can go. He is one of many elite guards on this portal cycle who will drop a 30-piece on somebody this season.
Corridor, White, Lewis and Tillis are upperclassmen who’re confirmed shot-makers, and the addition of Onyenso ought to give Virginia 40 minutes of rim safety. Holding Mallory within the fold, even after the teaching change, is a reasonably large deal. The 5-9 freshman level guard is a great deal of enjoyable.
Virginia just isn’t probably the most athletic workforce on this league, however a game-changing lead guard like Thomas surrounded by this a lot taking pictures and loads of shot-blocking provides Odom greater than sufficient to construct a event workforce. Like Louisville final yr, Virginia is straight away primed to skyrocket up the ACC pecking order
Tier 3: Bubblicious
SMU
2024-25 report: 24-11
Postseason: Misplaced within the second spherical of the NIT
High bench choices: G Corey Washington, F Jaden Toombs, F Nigel Partitions, G Jermaine O’Neal Jr.
The news: SMU misplaced its greatest participant in Matt Cross, however it has the firepower to compete for a top-five end on this 18-team league. Boopie Miller is a productive lead guard who murders unhealthy groups and struggles towards good ones. It has been that approach for 2 years and feels imminent in 12 months 3 within the ACC. However Yigitoglu is again after wanting proper at dwelling in his first yr as an ACC middle, and Pierre is a splashy lead guard who can rating with one of the best of them. SMU may actually attempt some bully-ball lineups with Toombs (a bodily freshman) subsequent to Yigitoglu in a two-big gameplan, or it may slide a sharpshooter like Walters into the lineup to play the 4.
SMU feels a tad flamable. Pierre desires to be the alpha. Miller desires to be the dude. There have been occasions when Washington actually needed to be the go-to participant for Wichita State. How does that meld? Does “your flip, my flip” offense rear its ugly head?
SMU has greater than sufficient to be a superb workforce, however it wants the chemistry experiment to go proper to make the NCAA Event.
Miami
2024-25 report: 7-24
Postseason: None
High bench choices: G Dante Allen, G/F Timotej Malovec, F Marcus Allen
The news: There’s some actual defensive enchantment with Jai Lucas’ first roster. Washington was one of many nastiest point-of-attack defenders within the Mountain West. Henderson is a chiseled ahead who might be able to go defensively. Udeh is an uber-physical inside defender. If this workforce cannot get stops with this personnel, one thing went dreadfully incorrect.
There’s not a ton of taking pictures on this workforce. Henderson, Udeh and Reneau all have critical taking pictures questions and Washington is notoriously streaky. However Reneau and Donaldson are floor-raising offensive additions. Reneau is an environment friendly inside scorer and underrated facilitator. Donaldson will push that factor relentlessly in transition and has a knack for making large pictures at huge spots. Donaldson bought very snug taking part in off the ball subsequent to a playmaking huge man in Danny Wolf at Michigan, so these classes realized ought to come into play with Reneau, at occasions.
Remember about Allen. The graceful, ready-to-play freshman has a cultured sport and basketball is in his blood. The most effective model of Miami seemingly contains Allen changing into the second-best guard on this workforce.
20-plus wins is firmly in play as a result of Miami bought a hand-wrapped present from the ACC schedulers with no Duke on the slate. Lucas’ membership must be included within the Bubble Watch as we strategy March. If it would not make the NCAA Event, the shortage of knockdown shooters could possibly be the wrongdoer.
Syracuse
2024-25 report: 14-19
Postseason: None
High bench choices: G Kiyan Anthony, F Sadiq White, F Ibrahim Souare
The news: It is time for Syracuse to start out hooping. Syracuse has a top-eight that may play with anyone if it coalesces. Syracuse had a horrifying -15 web ranking towards top-100 groups final yr, however this braintrust has had a sterling offseason. It was considered one of 18 high-major groups that returned two double-figure scores (Starling and Freeman). It landed a ballyhooed recruiting class, headlined by White, who ought to assist Syracuse’s dreadful transition offense enhance, and Anthony, who ought to add one other scorer/creator to buff up the halfcourt offense.
It plugged large areas of concern within the portal, too. The purpose guard play might be significantly better with George changing Jaquan Carlos who regarded a bit overwhelmed on the high-major ranks. Additions like Kingz and Betsey have actual enchantment as flooring spacers. Kyle is a hard-playing, high-flyer who bought buried at UCLA however has a beginning spot together with his title on it at Syracuse if he can earn it.
The concept of Syracuse is so apparent, however discovering grit and creating toughness might be necessary.
It is time to make a leap
Notre Dame
2024-25 report: 15-18
Postseason: None
| PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP |
| G Markus Burton* |
| G Braeden Shrewsberry* |
| G/F Jalen Haralson (247Sports No. 18 participant in Class of 2025) |
| F Carson Towt (Northern Arizona switch) |
| F Kebba Njie* |
High bench choices: G Sir Mohammed, G Cole Certa, G Ryder Frost, F Garrett Sundra, G Logan Imes
The news: Notre Dame has to lean on old-school prep recruiting and good ‘ole participant improvement to construct a contender on this portal-heavy period. Dropping Tae Davis to Oklahoma was irritating, however Micah Shrewsberry retained three starters (Burton, Braeden Shrewsberry and Njie), and complemented ’em with one of the best recruiting class in Notre Dame historical past. Haralson is the headliner. The 6-foot-7 wing’s potential to seize and go ought to buff up a Notre Dame transition offense that rated 353rd within the nation final yr. Do not be stunned if Shrewsberry cooks up some post-ups (shoutout, Jalen Pickett) for Haralson to assault some smaller defenders.
The expertise stage is beginning to rise in South Bend, and you may envision this offense having far more buttons to press. Burton will proceed to be Burton. He is the most effective scoring guards within the ACC who will put up ludicrous counting stats, and Braeden Shrewsberry’s off-movement 3s and slick pull-up jumper is not going anyplace. Towt provides some enchantment as an elite rebounder who’s snug taking part in together with his again to the basket each as a scorer or facilitator. Notre Dame has a ton of taking pictures and upside performs slated to return off the bench, too.
I am cautiously optimistic that with the appropriate breaks, Notre Dame can dance in 2025-26.
Wake Forest
2024-25 report: 21-11
Postseason: None
High bench choices: G Myles Colvin, F Omaha Biliew, G Sebastian Akins, G Isaac Carr
The news: The departures of Hunter Sallis and Cam Hildreth change the calculus of this squad, however Wake Forest nonetheless has the items to supply a stiff problem. Spillers, Biliew and Schwieger kind a sweet-looking frontcourt, and Calmese, Mason and Colvin are veterans who can so clearly play.
Wake Forest actually wants that sophomore breakout from Harris, however the offensive stability must be higher whereas sustaining some defensive chunk. Colvin can actually guard. Mason can actually guard. Spillers and Biliew are defensive items you be ok with.
This roster would not have that one no-doubt, NBA man, however Wake Forest’s retool provides it a puncher’s likelihood to compete for an at-large bid.
Clemson
2024-25 report: 27-7
Postseason: Misplaced in first spherical
High bench choices: F Carter Welling, F Jake Wahlin, G Zac Foster, G Ace Buckner
The news: Slightly regression feels seemingly for a Clemson program that misplaced all 5 guys who began within the NCAA Event. As regular, this new-look frontcourt must be the energy of this workforce. Davidson is a beast who can do nearly all the pieces. Welling goes to shock a ton of individuals together with his polished sport, and Godfrey returning for his second stint at Clemson ought to assist the inside protection stay stout.
The backcourt may make-or-break Clemson’s event case. Hunter was a stable function participant. Can he elevate into a brand new tier? Porter was very productive for a superb Center Tennessee workforce. Is he prepared for the ACC? Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson did not shoot it nicely at UAB. Bounceback on faucet?
Clemson cannot make critical noise on this league with out considered one of these guards elevating to All-ACC standing.
Tier 4: The basement
Pittsburgh
2024-25 report: 17-15
Postseason: None
High bench choices: F Barry Dunning Jr., G Omari Witherspoon, F Papa Kante
The news: Pitt’s frontcourt is stocked with high-major expertise. Jackson, Corhen and Kante ought to assist Pitt elevate from one of many worst offensive-rebounding groups within the ACC to the most effective. However Pitt wants a number of guys from this backcourt to erupt in a serious approach now that Ish Leggett graduated and Jaland Lowe transferred to Kentucky. Cummings is a breakout candidate, Minor is a stable veteran level guard who can hit pull-up jumpers with one of the best of them and Indrusaitis provides enchantment as a post-hype sleeper after he bought buried behind a deep, superior Iowa State backcourt.
There are such a lot of “ifs” with this workforce. Plus, quite a few squads bumped into issues final yr once they paired a non-shooting middle with a degree guard who’s a low-volume 3-point shooter. Pitt has that conundrum with Minor and Jackson at level guard and middle.
I do not assume this mixture works.
Florida State
2024-25 report: 17-15
Postseason: None
High bench choices: G Martin Sommerville, C Alier Maluk, G AJ Swinton
The news: Getting previous was a transparent precedence for first-year Florida State coach Luke Loucks. The Seminoles landed 5 seniors within the portal. McCray has a ton of juice and must be the go-to lead guard. FSU surrounded him with MaGee (a veteran shooter) and two huge, switchable 3-and-D wings in Wiggins and Jones. Rim safety is an early query, and Florida State will seemingly want Sommerville to be a giant hit off the bench to remain afloat.
Transferring from UMass Lowell as much as Florida State is frightening, however many portal evaluators have been piqued by Sommerville taking pictures over 46% on catch-and-shoot treys. He is bought an opportunity to be a useful function participant for Florida State subsequent yr whereas working as a giant piece of the longer term since he has three years of eligibility left on the docket.
Florida State has greater than sufficient to remain out of the ACC basement, however projecting a event bid is far-fetched.
California
2024-25 report: 14-19
Postseason: None
High bench choices: G DJ Campbell, F Lee Dort, F Rytis Petraitis, F Sammie Yeanay
The news: Mark Madsen has to really feel a bit snakebitten after Andrej Stojakovic and Jeremiah Wilkinson dipped for Illinois and Georgia, respectively. Cal may’ve simply been a contender for an enormous leap with these two stalwarts again. Alas, such is life for one of many extra under-resourced high-major groups in faculty basketball.
Madsen’s roster has some actual items. Pippen and Ames are younger guards with wiggle and shot-making enchantment. Bell and Camden are grizzled veterans who can shoot the duvet off it. Petraitis didn’t have an incredible first yr at Cal, however he can nonetheless be a necessary connector. Ilic and Dort give Madsen two actual choices on the 5.
It is a rock-solid crew of function gamers who really feel prefer it’s lacking the starpower that Stojakovic or Wilkinson may have offered.
Georgia Tech
2024-25 report: 17-17
Postseason: Misplaced in first spherical of NIT
| PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP |
| G Lamar Washington (Pacific switch) |
| G Jaeden Mustaf* |
| G Kowacie Reeves* |
| F Baye Ndongo* |
| C Mo Sylla |
High bench choices: G Kam Craft, F Luke O’Brien, G Chas Kelley III, G Akai Fleming, C Peyton Marshall
The news: Damon Stoudamire has a frontcourt that may create some issues. Ndongo generally is a 15-and-9 man subsequent season as he provides polish to his sport. Sylla is a hyped recruit who can defend the rim at a excessive stage. Throw it close to the sq., and he is dunking that factor. Reeves, Mustaf, Craft and O’Brien are all rock-solid perimeter choices who can shoot it.
However Georgia Tech’s outlook rests on a degree guard tandem of Washington or Kelley that appears shaky, on paper. Stoudamire may’ve actually used one other yr of Nait George, however he dipped for Syracuse and now the Yellow Jackets do not get to reap the rewards of the 12 months 3 surge that is undoubtedly coming after a pair years of seasoning.
Washington, particularly, might want to rise to the event. The Pacific switch put up spectacular counting stats, averaging 13.5 factors, 5.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists however he barely shot over 40% from the sector for one of many worst groups within the WCC. If he is higher than presumed, Georgia Tech has the supporting solid to beat preseason expectations
Virginia Tech
2024-25 report: 13-19
Postseason: None
High bench choices: G Tyler Johnson, G Ben Hammond, F Christian Gurdak
The news: Final season’s Virginia Tech roster was shedding the expertise battle each time it stepped onto the ground. Mike Younger solely added three transfers, however all of them appear to be affect gamers. Pasha is the jewel. The Delaware switch has a first-rate alternative to be a go-to participant. Bedford is a confirmed veteran sharpshooter, and Hansberry, whereas undersized, is simply productive and hard. His greatest basketball is clearly forward of him, and a few of his considerations as a shot-blocker are mitigated by the return of Lawal who’s a pogo-stick leaper.
Virginia Tech might be somewhat bit higher, however it nonetheless wants yet another splashy addition if it desires to significantly compete for a bid.
Boston Faculty
2024-25 report: 12-19
Postseason: None
High bench choices: F Jayden Hastings, F Boden Kapke, G Akbar Waheed
The news: Hand selecting to stay round at Boston Faculty was one of many largest portal storylines that not often bought talked about nationally. The 6-5 guard has a serious strap and would’ve been an enormous precedence for any shooting-needy workforce (spoiler: all of them). In an period the place Boston Faculty has routinely been pillaged within the portal, it is fairly exceptional that Earl Grant was capable of preserve his greatest participant.
This roster nonetheless doesn’t look as much as par with its ACC rivals, however there are some intriguing upside swings. Asemota ought to get loads of burn after sitting behind Norchad Omier and VJ Edgecombe at Baylor. Shaw is an insane athlete who needed to sit behind Mark Mitchell at Missouri. Forte is one other stable addition out of South Dakota who must be a plug-and-play beginning lead guard.
Stanford
2024-25 report: 21-14
Postseason: Misplaced in second spherical of NIT
| PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP |
| G Benny Gealer |
| G Jeremy Dent-Smith (Division II switch) |
| G Ryan Agarwal* |
| F Chisom Okpara* |
| C Oskar Giltay (Worldwide signee) |
High bench choices: G Jaylen Petty, F Aidan Cammann, F Donavin Younger, F Evan Stinson, F Tallis Toure
The news: Stanford was eerily quiet within the switch portal, regardless of shedding Maxime Raynaud to the NBA and Oziyah Sellers to St. John’s. On paper, this roster has a great deal of questions. Dent-Smith was a high-level bucket on the Division II ranks and Kyle Smith appears closely invested in letting him cook dinner. Giltay, a Belgian huge man, is a big-time shot-blocker who ought to workforce up with Okpara to maintain Stanford’s rim protection as much as par.
Stanford’s inside improvement must flex or it will be a protracted season.