ACC Basketball: Ranking the top 10 players in the conference

The ACC is seen as one of the best conferences in men’s basketball. Some of the best players in the country play in the conference, so let’s rank some of the star players in the ACC.

1. Duke’s Cooper Flagg

Opening the season in Duke’s exhibition game vs Arizona State, they dominated with Flagg recording nine points, four rebounds, and three assists in 21 minutes.

After their dominant win, Flagg and the Blue Devils will be looking to carry the momentum into the 2024-2025 collegiate season as they eye their first national title since 2015.

As a five-star commit, Flagg is considered one of the best NBA draft prospects we’ve seen in a long time.

Coming out of a loaded 2024 recruiting class with recruits like Ace Bailey, Dylan Harper, Drake Powell, Ian Jackson, and Jahlil Bethea, it was difficult to be looked at as the consensus top recruit in the class, but he was.

He has been scouted by NBA-level talent since the age of 13, and he hasn’t declined or been phased in his development.

Flagg became one of a select group of players to be named to Team USA’s Olympic select team where he showcased his talents against the top talent of the NBA.

Current players have already raved about him. Los Angeles Lakers’ Lebron James, Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren and Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren, have all praised his talent, work ethic, and veteran demeanor.

The future of the league is in good hands with Flagg as one of its faces.

2. UNC’s RJ Davis

Davis has been looked upon throughout his career as one of the best bucket-getters in the country. He earned ACC Player of the Year honors, averaging 21.2 points on great efficiency.

Davis is UNC’s offense, and the team's success runs through him. He is their number-one facilitator and has brought them to so much success over his collegiate career.

With the additions of five-star freshmen Ian Jackson and Drake Powell alongside him, the load of the offense should be taken off his shoulders.

Davis will still look to pick up where he left off last year, while also trying to lead UNC to back-to-back ACC championship appearances, and even greater, a national championship.

3. Wake Forest’s Hunter Sallis

Coming off a breakout year in his first season with the Demon Deacons after transferring from Gonzaga, Sallis was trending toward declaring for last year’s 2024 NBA draft.

He made the decision to stay at Wake Forest, hoping to continue his success and have a shot to compete in the ACC and NCAA tournaments.

Last season, Sallis was selected to the All-ACC first-team, averaging 18 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Getting increased playing time helped him as his minutes played improved from 16.8 minutes to 35.4 minutes per game.

4. Louisville’s Terrence Edwards Jr.

Transferring from James Madison, Edwards is joining a Louisville program that has continuously struggled over recent years, last year finishing with an 8-24 record.

At James Madison last season, he finished with 17.2 points per game and led the Dukes in an upset win over Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA tournament. His offensive spark provides a key piece that they desperately need.

5. Notre Dame’s Markus Burton

As a freshman, Burton was unstoppable and truly Notre Dame’s only bright spot last season, averaging 17.5 points per game and registering 20-plus points in 11 of their games.

Standing 5’11”, Burton is starting to fit in the group of undersized guards who are able to dominate the NCAA with their volume-scoring ability.

His three-point shooting at 30% is something he needs to improve going into this season, however, as a player who gets his points in bunches and is a quality free-throw shooter, Burton’s three-point shot should develop.

6. Duke’s Tyrese Proctor

Proctor was a former five-star recruit coming out of Australia two years ago but hasn’t lived up to it so far in college. He has shown glimpses of what he could be, averaging 10.5 points and 38% three-point shooting in ACC play last season.

He will look to make continuous strides in 2024 as he plays a key part for a Duke team that is poised to find success in the tournament with the additions of freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel.

7. Georgia Tech’s Baye Ndongo

Last season, as a freshman, Ndongo began his collegiate career recovering from an injury, however, when he returned, he caught fire in his third game against Duke where he recorded 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks.

His measurables at 6 '9” with a 7' 2.5” wingspan, display the defensive versatility that makes him dangerous for opponents to match up against.

The promising duo of Ndongo and fellow sophomore Nathan George will try to lead a Damon Stoudamire-coached team to a tournament appearance.

8. Clemson’s Ian Schieffelin

Schieffelin became an essential part of Clemson’s starting lineup last season, averaging a near double-double, and an astounding 46.4% from the perimeter.

He kept that up in the tournament as well, becoming a key contributor in Clemson’s push to the elite eight.

He improved his point averages during the tournament from 10.1 to 14.8, showing how capable he can be when taking over for star big man, PJ Hall, who entered the 2024 NBA draft.

Even Duke coach Jon Scheyer, before their game against Clemson last year, called Schieffelin one of the most difficult matchups in the ACC due to his versatile and balanced play style.

9. Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud

An international prospect from France, Raynaud is just another example of France-producing centers that can shoot threes.

He took a massive leap last year, winning Most Improved Player in the Pac-12. He improved in every statistical category, averaging 15.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.

In addition, Raynaud turned into a stretch five, improving his three-point percentage from sub-30% in 2022-2023 to 36% in 2023-2024. This included 48% on three-point field goals in conference play.

10. Pittsburgh’s Jaland Lowe

Lowe is looking to carry the momentum he had at the end of last season into this season. In his final 12 games, he averaged 13.1 points and 4.6 assists, while also shooting 41% from beyond the arc in that stretch.

Finding consistency will be crucial for him to create the same impact he made in the second half of last season.

Similarly to former teammate, now Washington Wizard, Carlton Carrington, Lowe’s talent could potentially allow him to become a surprise breakout collegiate star this upcoming season.

The ACC has a ton of talent that comes out of it into the NBA every year. It’s the conference where fans see some of the best rivalries in men’s basketball, and it’s where stars are born.

Owen Daszko is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email opd5073@psu.edu.