ACC Basketball: Ranking the 2017 Recruiting Classes

Now that basically all of the rosters are in order for the upcoming year, it’s time to look at which team ranks where.

Though basketball season is still five months away, it’s never too early to talk about hoops.

As you remember, the Tar Heels won the 2017 NCAA Championship this past April, but the ACC, as a whole, had a poor showing in the tournament.

What was considered to be the best conference in the nation, and one of the best in recent history, if not all time, the ACC will have a lot of new faces come November.

The ACC set a record with 10 first round selections in this past months NBA Draft, so there are high expectations for the incoming players.

Not only did they lose a lot, the ACC also gained a lot. They have 20 players in the top 100, with nine of those coming in the top 30, so there is no question they will have one of the best conferences for young talent.

The ACC is also represented by nine different teams in the top 100.

With many star players from almost every team departing, it is time for some of the top incoming recruits to make a name for themselves in college basketball. Who will be the next big star to play in the conference? Only time will tell.

Here we rank the incoming recruiting classes from each of the ACC schools, with each player ranking being taken from 247 Sports.

No. 15: Boston College (3 Commits)

Led by Ky Bowman and Jerome Robinson last year, both underclassmen, the Eagles will lean heavily on the both of them once again.

Don’t be surprised if one of them is on an All-ACC teams next year.

Despite their efforts, the Eagles finished just 2-16 in the ACC and struggled throughout the year as they were last in the conference.

Losing three players from last year’s roster, only two of which played a significant role, they will replace them with three new faces.

But how fast will that translate into a winning program? It’s likely not coming anytime soon.

Here is who the Eagles have coming in.

2017 Commits:

• Stefan Mitchell (Wichita, KS): 6-5, 175 lbs, SF, Rank – NR
• Avery Wilson (Forest Park, GA): 6-3, 215 lbs, PG, Rank – NR
• Luke Kraljevic (Crown Pt, IN): 6-10, C, Rank -NR

Don’t look for any of these players to make a huge impact, especially right away, as most of the Eagles’ talent returns from last year.

No. 14: NC State (2 Commits)

There was a lot of turnover from last year’s Wolfpack squad.

Multiple players transferred out, left for the draft, and a new coaching staff came into Raleigh.

They had a very disappointing season finishing 4-14 in conference play. Their highlight came when they beat Duke in Durham, led by a fantastic effort from Dennis Smith Jr.

They were also blown out twice by the Tar Heels.

With that though, they still bring in two players who will be very valuable for next year’s squad.

They also got good news when they were able to secure a commitment from UNCW guard, CJ Bryce, but he will have to sit out a year due to the NCAA transfer rules.

2017 Commits:

• Lavar Batts (Concord, NC): 6-3, 160 lbs, PG, Rank – 83
• Al Freeman (Baylor University): 6-3, 210 lbs, SG

NC State will be getting two very good guards to help replace lottery pick, Smith Jr.

Freeman, who graduated this past year, is eligible immediately. The Charlotte native averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.

Though he shot a career-low from three-point range last year, he has a career average of 36.5 percent.

The Wolfpack are on a rebuild and could use some production from this class to boost that a little bit for the future.

No. 13 Virginia (2 Commits)

A team that lost their leader and heart and soul of the team in London Perrantes, will try to regroup in what may be a difficult season.

They will rely heavily on sophomore Kyle Guy and a pair of seniors in Isaiah Wilkins and Devon Hall.

After getting a McDonalds All-American in Guy last year, the Cavaliers failed to get another top 100 recruit in this year’s class.

2017 Commits:

• Marco Anthony (San Antonio, TX): 6-6, 220, CG, Rank – NR
• Francesco Badocchi (Mission, KS): 6-8, 205, SF, Rank – NR

While they hope Guy turns into a star and a four-year player, they need a solid class in 2018 to help replace what they have lost in previous years.

Look for Marco Anthony to play significant minutes for a Tony Bennett squad that will use a lot of bodies and look to utilize combo wing players like Anthony.

A team that struggled to score last year, look for more of the same in the upcoming year as they don’t seem to have a star player on the roster as of now.

No. 12 Georgia Tech (4 Commits)

George Tech will look to build off of a great year in which they made it to the NIT championship.

A team that was only predicted to win one or two conference games far exceeded expectations and spent most of their season on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

That included a win over the Tar Heels to open up ACC play on December 31. After that, the Yellow Jackets surprised people as they finished 17-15 overall on the year.

Returning their top three scorers and look to make a splash in the big dance in 2018.

2018  Commits: 

• Brandon Alston (Lehigh University): 6-5, 200 lbs, CG
• Jose Alvarado (Middle Village NY): 6-0, 160 lbs, PG, Rank – NR
• Curtis Haywood II (Wolfeboro, NH): 6-4, 187 lbs, SG, Rank – NR
• Evan Cole (Cumming, GA): 6-8, 200 lbs, PF, Rank – NR

With George Tech being a very young, but battle tested team, Alston will be a great addition to bring some more veteran leadership.

He appeared in 62 games, starting 11, over his two seasons, for Lehigh, averaging 5.8 points while shooting 35.5 percent from three-point range. Look for him to make some noise in the ACC next season.

No. 11 Pittsburgh (7 commits)

After a very disappointing year, Kevin Stallings finally gets to bring in some of his own players.

Stallings lost guard Cam Johnson to UNC and will look to replace a lot of production gone from the Panthers roster.  But it wont be easy.

Since they are losing their top four players from last year’s team, next year will be a huge rebuild for Pitt.

How quickly they can turn around the program and get it in the right direction may rely on how this class turns out.

2017 Commits:

• Marcus Carr (Montverde, FL): 6-2, 170 lbs, PG, Rank – NR
• Jared Wilson-Frame (Niceville, FL): 6-5, 220 lbs, SF, Rank – 10 JC
• Terrell Brown (Tilton, NH): 6-8, 205 lbs, PF, Rank – NR
• Samson George (Washington, PA): 6-8, 220 lbs, PF, Rank – NR
• Peace Ilegomah (Montverde, FL): 6-10, 230, C, Rank – NR
• Shamiel Stevenson (Phoenix, AZ): 6-6, 230 lbs, SF, Rank – NR
• Parker Stewar (Union City, TN): 6-5, 185 lbs, SG, Rank – NR

Look for Marcus Carr and Jared Wilson-Frame to be the only two out of the 2017 commits to play a major role next year.

With plenty of playing time open on the Panthers roster, these guys could find themselves with chances to contribute right away.

No. 10 Notre Dame (1 Commit)

The Fighting Irish received great news after last season when Bonzie Colson decided to come back to South Bend for his senior year.

Though they did lose valuable wings in VJ Beachem and Stevie Vasturia, they keep most of their core together and get a very good incoming wing to replace them.

The Fighting Irish will welcome in one recruit for their 2017 class but he’s ranked as a top 50 prospect and could be a four-year player for the program.

2017 Commits:

• DJ Harvey (Hyattsville, MD): 6-6, 185 lbs, SF,  Rank – 46

With Colson and Matt Farrell holding the keys to the team, look for Harvey to have an immediate impact and play significant minutes alongside those two all season long.

Our friends over at Slap The Sign broke down Harvey’s fit:

Heading to the 18th best 3-point shooting team in the country, and a team shooting 46% from the field, Harvey fits right in with the Irish. He’s a two-three guard who can match up with players from the point to power forward and compete.

The Fighting Irish reached the Elite 8 in 2016 before falling to UNC but couldn’t get out of the opening weekend of the 2017 NCAA Tournament.

No. 9 Syracuse (4 Commits)

Syracuse is coming off of a disappointing year in which they found themselves watching the NCAA Tournament at home.

The Orange were on the bubble towards the end of the season, finishing 10-8 in the ACC and 18-14 overall. It wasn’t enough to get them in the tournament.

After losing most of their impact players, it will take a lot for the Orange to have a bounce back year.

The 2017 campaign might be another rough one where they hover around .500 for most of the conference schedule. Don’t expect them to shock anyone anytime soon.

2017 Commits: 

• Oshae Brissett (Mississauga, CAN): 6-6, 195 lbs, SF
• Howard Washington (Buffalo, NY): 6-2, 172 lbs, PG
• Bourama Sidibe (Newark, NJ): 6-10, 225 lbs, C, Rank – NR
• Marek Dolezaj (Bratislava, Slovakia): 6-9, 200 lbs, PF, Rank – NR

Both Brissett and Washington are very athletic players who can play on the wing. Once again, Syracuse will have a lot of length to throw in their zone.

No. 8 Wake Forest (4 Commits)

Danny Manning’s squad took a huge hit when they lost John Collins to the NBA Draft, but brings in a talented recruiting class to add to an already talented team.

Collins was the highlight of the Demon Deacons season where they went 9-9 in conference play.

But like a few other teams previously mentioned, the upcoming season will be another tough one for them.

2017 Commits:

• Chaundee Brown (Orlando, FL): 6-5, 195, SG, Rank – 31
• Olivier Sara (Paris, France): 6-11, 225 lbs, C, Rank – NR
• Melo Eggleston (Fitchburg, MA): 6-9, 180 lbs, SF, Rank – NR
• Sunday Okeke (New Canaan, CT): 6-8, 230 lbs, PF, Rank – NR

Chaundee Brown is a very talented wing player who had offers from Florida and Kansas, among others as he was ranked the number seven shooting guard in the country.

With a young core that stayed intact through the offseason, look for Wake Forest to make a jump up in the conference rankings this year.

No. 7 Clemson (4 Commits)

Jaron Blossomgame has finally left, and leaves Clemson with some questions surrounding their program. Who will be next?

Blossomgame was the man for nearly all of his four years, and now their program shifts to a new direction, looking for one of their four freshmen to step up.

2017 Commits:

• A.J. Oliver (Central, SC): 6-4, 175 lbs, SG, Rank – NR
• Aamir Simms (Dyke, VA): 6-8, 200 lbs, SF, Rank – NR
• Malik William (Orlando, FL): 6-8, 200 lbs, PF, Rank – NR
• Clyde Trapp (Hopkins, SC): 6-5, 188 lbs, SG, Rank – NR

With what is another slightly below average recruiting class, Brad Brownell needs a good year to step off of the hot seat.

They have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2011 and haven’t finished above fourth in the conference since the same year.

No. 6 Virginia Tech (3 Commits)

Buzz Williams has totally turned this program around, and looks to build off of their first round exit in the NCAA tourney this past year.

After losing Zach Leday and Seth Allen, their top two scorers, they needed some firepower to come in and replace them.

Will this 2017 class provide that? Well, the Hokies have two top 100 players in this class, which is a good sign for Williams.

2017 Commits:

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Chattanooga, TN): 6-5, 175 lbs, SG, Rank – 34
• Wabissa Bede (Ashburnham, MA): 6-1, 180 lbs, PG, Rank – 70
• PJ Horne (Tifton, GA): 6-6, 220 lbs, PF, Rank – NR

Both Bede and Alexander-Walker are high powered athletes with great skill. They will step in from day one and make an immediate impact for Coach Williams.

After making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years, they look to make it in back-to-back years for the first time since 1985-’86.

No. 5 Florida State (5 Commits)

After losing four starters from last year’s team, the Seminoles lose a lot of talent, including two draft picks.

Ranked as high as fourth in the country at one point last season, they struggled in their consistency towards the end of the year.

Enter, two top 60 talents and the Seminoles will look to bounce back after a disappointing early exit in the NCAA tournament.

It was arguably the best Florida State team in years but the ending to the season will certainly sting fans for years to come.

2017 Commits:

• M.J. Walker (Jonesboro, GA): 6-5, 205 lbs, SG, Rank – 25
• Ikechukwu Obiagu (Decatur, GA): 7-0, 230 lbs, C, Rank – 63
• RaiQuan Gray (Ft Lauderdale, FL): 6-8, 240 lbs, PF, Rank – NR
• Anthony Polite (Boca Raton, FL): 6-6, 210 lbs, SG, Rank – NR
• Wyatt Wilkes (Winter Park, FL): 6-7, 200 lbs, PF, Rank – NR

It wouldn’t be a true Florida State team if they didn’t have an extremely athletic, and long, frontcourt player – from Jonathan Isaac to Ibiagu, shot blocking will be a norm for the Seminoles.

With just their second one and done player in their history in Jonathon Isaac, watch out for Walker to be the third in as many seasons with a good year.

Walker is the prize of the Seminoles class, ranked No. 25 in the nation. Can he lead the Seminoles back to the tournament?

No. 4 North Carolina (6 Commits)

Here are your 2017 NCAA Champs.

The Tar Heels lost a lot of players from their championship team, but they have a lot of talented young players incoming.

With their incoming freshman, you also have Cam Johnson who will be eligible immediately.

Johnson finally got his full release from Pitt, weeks after both UNC and Johnson showed common interest.

Averaging 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 42 percent from three last year, he will step right into the role Justin Jackson had last year.

2017 Commits:

• Cam Johnson (University of Pittsburgh): 6-8, 210 lbs, SF
• Jalek Felton (Columbia, SC): 6-3, 175 lbs, CG, Rank – 26
• Garrison Brooks (Auburn, AL): 6-9, 215 lbs, PF, Rank – NR
• Brandon Huffman (Raleigh, NC): 6-9, 250 lbs, C, Rank – NR
• Sterling Manley (Pickerington, OH): 6-10, 230 lbs, C, Rank – NR
• Andrew Platek (Northfield, MA): 6-4, 190 lbs, SG, Rank – NR

Though Carolina won’t rely heavily on Brooks, Huffman, Manley, and Platek, all of them will see minutes and the trio of big men will need to all develop faster than expected after the somewhat unexpected departure of Tony Bradley.

Felton, the nephew of former Tar Heels guard Raymond Felton, is a terrific athlete who will come in and make an impact from day one.

Though he may not start, his ability to score will be extremely valuable to the second unit of the Heels.

No. 3 Miami (4 Commits)

Miami had a very up and down year last year that ended with a blowout loss to Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

After getting great news with Bruce Brown returning for his sophomore year, they pair him up with a trio of top 100 recruits.

Brown’s return is huge for the Hurricanes.

Both Lonnie Walker and Chris Lykes are ranked in the top 75 for the 2017 class. Deng Gak is a good addition at the center spot and they also have Sam Waardenburg out of New Zealand to give them some depth down low.

2017 Commits:

• Lonnie Walker (Reading, PA): 6-5, 206 lbs, SG, Rank – 15
• Chris Lykes (Washington, DC): 5-7, 160 lbs, PG, Rank – 62
• Deng Gak (Blairstown, NJ): 6-11, 209 lbs, C, Rank – 97
• Sam Waardenburg (New Zealand, NEW): 6-9, 220 lbs, SF/PF, Rank – NR

Lonnie Walker will join a talented backcourt and be part of a three-pronged attack with Brown and Ja’Quan Newton.

After a poor freshman year, former McDonalds All-American Dewan Huell looks to bounce back and be a vital part of the Hurricanes’ success.

No. 2 Louisville (5 Commits)

What has been a terrible offseason with the NCAA coming down hard on them for their recent recruiting scandal, the Cardinals rebounded with a terrific late addition to their recruiting class in 5-star Brian Bowen.

The Cardinals, who lost a lot from last year’s roster, got some more good news when Deng Adel decided to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to school.

Pitino landed two big prospects in the state of Indiana as the Cardinals welcome an impressive class.

2017 Commits:

• Brian Bowen (La Porte, IN): 6-7, 194 lbs, SF, Rank – 18
• Malik Williams (Fort Wayne, IN): 7-0, 200 lbs, C, Rank – 25
• Jordan Nwora (Saxtons River, VT): 6-8, 220 lbs, SF, Rank – 67
• Darius Perry (Marietta, GA): 6-2, 170 lbs, PG, Rank – 71
• Lance Thomas (Norcross, GA): 6-10, 210 lbs, PF, Rank – NR

With the pieces that they do return in addition to the talented recruiting class, the Cardinals look primed to be a top 10 team in the country for most of the year.

No. 1 Duke (6 Commits)

After basically being named the “best team ever” ahead of this past season, they imploded and were handed a second-round exit in the NCAA tournament.

Yet again they bring in another extremely talented recruiting class, but will they be able to mesh?

Only time will tell, but lets pump the breaks on naming this team “the best ever”.

With what should be a loaded bench, full of talent, it’ll be interesting to see just how Coach K uses it.

2017 Commits:

• Trevon Duval (Bradenton, FL): 6-3, 190 lbs, PG, Rank – 5
• Wendell Carter (Atlanta, GA): 6-10, 262 lbs, PF, Rank – 6
• Gary Trent Jr (Napa, CA): 6-5, 213 lbs, SG, Rank – 16
• Jordan Tucker (Marietta, GA): 6-7, 205 lbs, SF, Rank – 61
• Alex O’Connell (Alpharetta, GA): 6-5, 170 lbs, SG, Rank – 68
• Jordan Goldwire (Norcross, GA): 6-2, 170 lbs, CG, Rank – NR

With two late signees in Trevon Duval and Jordan Tucker, the Blue Devils were able solidify what was already a very good class.

It lies on the shoulders of senior Grayson Allen.

With what has been a rocky career up to this point, will he be the leader that some thought he could be last year, or will he trip over his own feet in the process?

 

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