The ACC is undoubtedly the best college basketball conference in the country with several of the country's best and most storied programs, and many of the nation's top players call it home. Here are the best of the best heading into this season:
5) PF Zach Auguste, Notre Dame
With last year's stars Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton in the NBA, Notre Dame is counting on Auguste to build off of his performance last season and become their leader. The big man showed flashed of dominance during the Irish's Elite 8 run last March, including a supremely impressive 20-point, nine-rebound performance as Notre Dame's only big man against Kentucky's dominant front line.
That game came just two weeks after Auguste had a monster double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) against UNC in the ACC Tournament Championship Game, both of which turned him into a star. Now, he just has to prove he can do that consistently.
4) SG Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Just like the Virginia team he leads, Brogdon has been underrated as a player throughout his entire collegiate career. The senior averaged 14 points per game last year despite playing second fiddle to Justin Anderson (now with the Dallas Mavericks) and in Virginia's slow pace of play. Despite his dynamic offensive versatility as a shooter and a slahser, Brogdon makes his money on the defensive end of the floor, where he's been the best wing defender in the country since he stepped on campus.
3) SF Brandon Ingram, Duke Blue Devils
Ingram has as much potential as anyone in the country, and could be competing for the No. 1 pick after the college season. The freshman a 6'8 small forward who has all the skill in the world on the offensive end, but his lack of strength (198 lbs.) will be a big negative going forward. However, he can often make up for his lack of strength with his insane leaping ability that allows him to touch the top of the backboard.
2) SG Grayson Allen, Duke Blue Devils
The new face of the Duke program didn't get a lot of opportunitites in his freshman year with Quinn Cook, Tyus Jones, and Justise Winslow in the backcourt, but he made the most of the time he did get - especially in the national championship game. Now as a starter and the Blue Devils' leader, Allen is ready to use his deadly combination of three-point marksmanship and sneaky great athletic ability (he did win the McDonald's All-American Slam Dunk Contest by jumping OVER Okafor). Expect him to compete for ACC Player of the Year.
1) PG Marcus Paige, North Carolina Tar Heels
Paige is the leader of the UNC teams that's the top-ranked team in the country in most polls, and for good reason. He's been the heart and soul of the team for the past three seasons and is the engine that makes the Tar Heels' offense go. Paige has been forced to carry most of the offensive burden in Chapel Hill since no one else on the roster has proven they can consistently create their own shot, and he has a proven track record of finding that balance of being both a scorer and a distributor (15.7 ppg, 4.3 apg over past two seasons). He'll produce more of the same this year for the Tar Heels.
Back to the ACC Newsfeed