Hey all, back with offseason roster resets for Clemson and Duke today as I work through all 18 ACC rosters alphabetically. If you missed any previous, check them out at these links:
As always, let me know anything I missed or needed updates, and of course share your thoughts in the thread.
Clemson
| Departures | G Joseph Girard (Graduated) | 36 G, 32.8 mpg, 15.1 ppg, 2.9 apg, 41% 3P% | |
| G Alex Hemenway (Transferred to Vanderbilt) | 5 G, 15.6 mpg, 5.2 ppg, 1.4 apg, 42% 3P% | ||
| SG Joshua Beadle (Transferred to Boston College) | 32 G, 10.8 mpg, 3 ppg, 0.8 apg, 14% 3P% | ||
| F Jack Clark (Transferred to VCU) | 25 G, 23.5 mpg, 4.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 30% 3P% | ||
| PF RJ Godfrey (Transferred to Georgia) | 36 G, 15.5 mpg, 6.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 59% FG% | ||
| C PJ Hall (Turned Pro) | 36 G, 28.9 mpg, 18.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 49% FG% | ||
| C Bas Leyte (Graduated) | 20 G, 4.6 mpg, 0.8 ppg, 0.8 rpg, 55% FG% | ||
| Returners | G Chase Hunter (SR+) | 36 G, 32.8 mpg, 12.9 ppg, 3.2 apg, 31% 3P% | |
| SG Dillon Hunter (JR) | 36 G, 14.7 mpg, 2.3 ppg, 1.3 apg, 26% 3P% | ||
| PF Ian Schieffelin (SR) | 36 G, 27.5 mpg, 10.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 56% FG% | ||
| PF Chauncey Wiggins (JR) | 36 G, 17.8 mpg, 5.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 44% FG% | ||
| Additions | PG Jaeden Zackery (SR+ Transfer, Boston College) | 36 G, 33.8 mpg, 11.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 41% 3P% | |
| PG Del Jones (3-star FR) | |||
| G Ace Buckner (3-star FR) | |||
| SF Jake Heidbreder (RS JR Transfer, Air Force) | 32 G, 32.4 mpg, 15.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 40% 3P% [in 2022-23] | ||
| F Dallas Thomas (3-star FR) | |||
| F Asa Thomas (3-star RS FR) | |||
| PF Myles Foster (JR Transfer, Illinois State) | 32 G, 28.5 mpg, 12.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 53% FG% | ||
| C Christian Reeves (RS SO Transfer, Duke) | 3 G, 5.3 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 67% FG% | ||
| C Viktor Lakhin (RS SR Transfer, Cincinatti) | 29 G, 21.7 mpg, 9.2 ppg, 6 rpg, 50% FG% |
Brad Brownell enters his 15th season as head coach fresh off Clemson’s impressive Elite Eight run, having quietly become one of the league’s more consistent programs. The Tigers have a couple of key starters to replace this offseason but still have a lot of reasons for optimism.
Boston College transfer Jaeden Zackery arrives to slot into the graduated Joe Girard’s spot alongside returning 5th year Chase Hunter. While lacking next-level upside, these two have a combined 190 starts at the ACC level and should be as dependable a back court as Brownell could ask for. The backup guard situation is a bit thin, though. The younger Hunter brother Dillon thus far struggling with consistency at the ACC level and otherwise the Tigers have just a pair of 3-star guard recruits in Ace Buckner and Del Jones (rated #138 and #161 respectively by 247sports.com) to work with. Clemson has had success developing lower-rated guards in the past, but hard to predict if they’ll make Year 1 impacts. A lot may ride on Chase and Zackery both being consistently able to give 35 minutes per game.
The forward spots are a bit unsettled at this juncture. Former all-MWC 3rd-Teamer Jake Heidbreder comes off a redshirt year looking to seize the role as a scoring specialist. If he struggles, expect Clemson to go jumbo with their 3-4 pairings with incumbent Chauncey Wiggins and glue-guy transfer Myles Foster (known as one of the MVC’s best rebounders and shot blockers) pairing with the proven Ian Schieffelin. 3-star freshmen Dallas Thomas and Asa Thomas (no relation) will likely work in slowly behind these veterans. This frontcourt could be one of the best defensively and on the glass in the conference.
Cincinatti 5th year transfer Viktor Lahkin will try and fill PJ Hall’s shoes at the 5 spot. He lacks some of Hall’s upside, and isn’t the same stretch threat, but still has a very high floor as an established starter in the Big XII. Duke reserve big man Christian Reeves will hope to grab the backup center spot, though I’d expect to see a lot of 2-PF lineups when Lahkin is out to take advantage of Clemson’s depth and experience at their forward spots.
This Clemson team will miss the all-ACC-quality contributions from Girard and Hall, but if Zackery and Chase Hunter can handle heavy season-long loads at the guard spots, the Tigers’ front court should carry them to another top-half ACC finish and shot at the NCAA Tournament.
Duke
| Departures | PG Jeremy Roach (Transferred to Baylor) | 35 G, 32.7 mpg, 14 ppg, 3.3 apg, 43% 3P% | |
| G Jared McCain (Turned Pro) | 36 G, 31.6 mpg, 14.3 ppg, 1.9 apg, 41% 3P% | ||
| G Jaylen Blakes (Transferred to Stanford) | 31 G, 9.2 mpg, 1.8 ppg, 0.4 apg, 26% 3P% | ||
| F TJ Power (Transferred to Virginia) | 26 G, 7 mpg, 2.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg, 36% 3P% | ||
| PF Mark Mitchell (Transferred to Missouri) | 33 G, 28.6 mpg, 11.6 ppg, 6 rpg, 54% FG% | ||
| PF Sean Stewart (Transferred to Ohio State) | 33 G, 8.3 mpg, 2.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 57% FG% | ||
| F/C Kyle Filipowski (Turned Pro) | 36 G, 30.4 mpg, 16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 51% FG% | ||
| C Ryan Young (Graduated) | 36 G, 11.8 mpg, 2.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 58% FG% | ||
| C Christian Reeves (Transferred to Clemson) | 3 G, 5.3 mpg, 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 67% FG% | ||
| Returners | SG Tyrese Proctor (JR) | 32 G, 30.4 mpg, 10.5 ppg, 3.7 apg, 35% 3P% | |
| SG Caleb Foster (SO) | 27 G, 25.4 mpg, 7.7 ppg, 2.1 apg, 41% 3P% | ||
| Additions | G Sion James (SR+ Transfer, Tulane) | 31 G, 36.7 mpg, 14 ppg, 2.7 apg, 38% 3P% | |
| G/F Kon Knueppel (5-star FR) | |||
| SF Isaiah Evans (5-star FR) | |||
| SF Darrin Harris (4-star FR) | |||
| F Cameron Sheffield (RS SR Transfer, Rice) | 35 G, 30.9 mpg, 7.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 37% 3P% | ||
| F Mason Gillis (SR+ Transfer, Purdue) | 39 G, 21.1 mpg, 6.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 47% 3P% | ||
| F Cooper Flagg (5-star FR) | |||
| PF Maliq Brown (JR Transfer, Syracuse) | 32 G, 29.6 mpg, 9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 70% FG% | ||
| C Khaman Maluach (5-star FR) | |||
| C Patrick Ngongba (4-star FR) |
Year three of the Jon Scheyer experiment at Duke sees a number of former Top 25 recruits leave via the transfer portal, many arguably pushed out to make room for the newest crop of incoming HS 5-stars. The Blue Devils hung around the Top 10-15 for much of last season and made a solid Elite Eight run, but pressure will be on the program this year to either make a Final Four run or at a minimum dominate in conference play with the caliber of prospects on hand.
While Duke only returns two players, they at least are two high-usage guards, and we all recognize the value in having program veterans at the guard spots. Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster are well rounded and versatile scorers and facilitators, each with a 6’5" frame that enables them to play any spot 1-3.
Joining them are a quartet of promising guard/wing options. Tulane transfer Sion James has a well-earned reputation as a defensive stopper, posting “stock” numbers (steals + blocks) in the AAC the last two years on par with Reece Beekman’s. And five-star wings Kon Knueppel and Isaiah Evans both have one-and-done potential as high-end scorers. Four-star Darrin Harris may be the odd man out of the rotation, but will provide depth that gives the Devils a lot of versatility on the perimeter.
The front court sees a quality mix of high-floor veterans and high-ceiling one-and-dones. Syracuse transfer Maliq Brown can play either post spot and has the energy and toughness to set the tone defensively and control the glass. Mason Gillis, fresh off a Final Four run at Purdue, can stretch the floor and will provide a stabilizing presence. Cooper Flagg may be the most sure-thing ready freshman at Duke since Zion Williamson, having held his own this summer as the lone collegian working out with the senior Team USA squad prior to the Olympics, cementing himself as the consensus #1 projected pick in the '25 Draft. And 7’2" NBA Global Academy graduate Khaman Maluach is a near-consensus Lottery prospect for next year; scouts admit he’s more potential than finished product at this point, but he’ll have the luxury at Duke of working in as a reserve behind the more polished veterans.
Duke, with this roster loaded with a combination of proven high-major talents and up to four one-and-done blue-chips, is an easy choice to project as a Top 10 team nationally next year, and unsurprisingly the media’s preseason ACC favorite. That will, of course, put a target on their back, as this is undeniably a Final Four-or-bust kind of season for Scheyer. That said, while they may falter somewhat as they integrate 10 new faces, doing their usual recent schtick of suffering just enough upsets to finish 2nd or 3rd in the league, it’s hard to pick a specific ACC team right now that’s better than them, leaving them as the favorites by default.