ACC Preview: Preseason Player of the Year and First and Second-Team Predictions

It’s ACC week here at On3, and we keep the content rolling with the 2023-24 basketball season previews. In this article, let’s talk ACC Preseason Player of the Year and break down first and second-team All-ACC performers.

ACC Preseason Power Ranking

ACC Preseason Player of the Year

6-5 Sr. G Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest)

The conversation for ACC Player of the Year essentially came down to two players, Sallis and UNC’s RJ Davis. When looking through both teams and weighing out expectations, it became apparent that in order for Wake Forest to have the success that it is expected to have, Sallis will need to be very good. Of course, Davis is coming off a memorable season, one where he led the league in scoring and helped UNC earn a 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, with what the Tar Heels added this off-season, Davis will not need to have the usage he did last season for them to reach the peak of their success.

Sallis is an explosive, downhill guard. Athletically, few can match his twitchy burst and rise around the basket. He has elevated his pace of play and, last season, he shot the ball with consistency. In speaking with those around the Wake Forest program, Sallis had a very good off-season and there could be another step forward for him this year. Not only will Sallis be asked to finish plays by putting the ball in the basket, he will also have a strong hand in initiating plays.

Again, this is a very close conversation, Davis or Sallis, and one that could switch back and forth throughout the year.

Preseason 1st Team All-ACC

Sr. G Hunter Sallis (Wake Forest)

2023-24 Stats: 18.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks, 48.7% FG, 40.5% 3P, 78.3% FT

The Buzz: Hunter Sallis pulled out of the NBA Draft in the final hour to come back to Wake Forest. The 6-foot-5 guard elevated his play across the board last season, not only shooting the ball at a higher clip but also facilitating more efficiently. The uber-athletic guard gets a piece of the paint often and he put consistent pressure on the rim throughout last season. Sallis will have a lot of NBA eyes on him this season, and in order for Steve Forbes‘ group to be as good as expectations suggest, Sallis will need to consistently be very good.

Sr. G RJ Davis (UNC)

2023-24 Stats: 21.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.2 blocks, 42.8% FG, 39.8% 3P, 87.3% FT

The Buzz: RJ Davis is coming off a career-type year last season, carrying the Tar Heels through long stretches and into a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While the season did not end the way Davis wanted, the 6-foot-1 guard opted to come back to Chapel Hill for his fifth, and final year. The thing about this year’s UNC team is that they will not need Davis to have as much usage as he did last year. This year’s team is more balanced with players who can self-create and/or stretch the floor. With that, last year’s leading scorer in the ACC (784 total points) starts the season 784 career points behind Tyler Hansbrough who is currently UNC’s and the ACC’s all-time leading scorer. UNC is predicted to win the ACC.

So. G Markus Burton (Notre Dame)

2023-24 Stats: 17.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, 42.1% FG, 30.0% 3P, 82.1% FT

The Buzz: Not only did Markus Burton average 17.5 points throughout last season, but the 5-foot-11 guard missed the freshman wall as he got better as the season went on averaging 17.8 points in ACC play. Burton is the reigning ACC Freshman of the Year and he helped the Fighting Irish win six of their final ten games of the season. This year, Burton will need to tighten up his efficiency (42.1% FG, 3.7 turnovers), but Micah Shrewsberry is giving rave reviews about the summer his prized sophomore has had. Burton will not be forced to shoulder the load as much this season as Notre Dame added experienced bigs and more shooting in the off-season. The Irish are expected to take a notable step forward this season, and for that to happen, Burton will need to be very good.

Sr. C Maxime Raynaud (Stanford)

2023-24 Stats: 15.5 points, 9.6 rebounds. 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.8 blocks, 56.7% FG, 36.1% 3P, 78.4% FT

The Buzz: While the Stanford program is in full rebuild mode in year one under Kyle Smith, the Cardinal should have the best center in the league. The 7-foot-1 big man from Paris, France is coming off a season that saw him earn Pac 12 Most Improved Players honors along with second-team All-Pac 12. Maxime Raynaud can have the offense run through him. He can make a pass with the ball in his hands but also is a threat to score from multiple levels. As he navigates his way through a new league, he has legit size and feel. Last season, Stanford had seven players who averaged between seven and 11 shots per game, this year, Raynaud should be the central figure of the offense.

Fr. F Cooper Flagg (Duke)

2023-24 Stats: NA

The Buzz: This will be an interesting season for Cooper Flagg, as he is entering his first year of college basketball with a lot of expectations on his shoulders. He deserves all of the press clippings he is receiving, as he has strung together numerous and consistent high-level performances over the past couple of years. In college, it will be interesting to see how he dials into his role. Offensively, Flagg is a connector. He will not wow anyone with his scoring totals, but what he will do is move the ball and not force things. Where a majority of his points will come are in transition and off-ball cuts. He does not have a breakdown handle and the shooting, to this point, has been streaky at best. Where he will shine is on the defensive end. He should collect counting stats on that end as he is one of the best freelance defenders we have seen in the past handful of years. Flagg will have opportunity this season, as he (along with Tyrese Proctor) will most likely lead the Blue Devils in minutes played. The beauty of Flagg’s game is not with the big individual numbers but with his ability to put up consistent and efficient numbers across the board. While he might not finish in the top ten in the ACC in scoring this season, he should efficiently finish in double figures while possibly pushing to finish in the league’s top ten in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.

Preseason 2nd Team All-ACC

Sr. G Chucky Hepburn (Louisville)

2023-24 Stats (at Wisconsin): 9.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.1 blocks, 42.9% FG, 32.2% 3P, 73.7% FT

The Buzz: Pat Kelsey enters year one as the head coach of a very proud Louisville program that is coming off two of its worst seasons in school history. With that, Kelsey cleaned house, bringing an entirely new roster, 12 players out of the portal, and one freshman. At the College of Charleston, Kelsey played ten players in 32 games and ten or more minutes per game. He likes to stretch his rotation. He plays fast, guards the ball, and likes to get up high-percentage shots. The most important player on the floor for Louisville this season is Chucky Hepburn. While others could average more points or have more flashy plays, it will be Hepburn’s leadership and his play at the point of attack that could prove invaluable to the Cardinals’ success this season. The 6-foot-2 guard earned first-team All-Defense in the Big 10 last season after finishing second in the league with 2.1 steals per game.

So. G Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh)

2023-24 Stats: 9.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.1 blocks, 38.8% FG, 35.2% 3P, 85.5% FT

The Buzz: Down the stretch, Jaland Lowe was at his best. In ACC play, Lowe upped his production to 12.1 points and 3.8 assists per game. In his final 12 games played, Lowe averaged 13.2 points and 4.6 assists per game. The 6-foot-3 guard also shot 38.8 percent from three in ACC play. Lowe is coming off a summer of positive reviews. He showed in ACC play last season that he can knock down a shot, and get a piece of the paint to make a play. Added strength will play a factor in Lowe’s consistency this season. Pittsburgh will be replacing its two leading scorers, so the opportunity will be primed for Lowe.

So. C Baye Ndongo (Georgia Tech)

2023-24 Stats: 12.4 points. 8.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.1 blocks,

The Buzz: Baye Ndongo earned ACC All-Freshman honors after finishing second in the league at 55.8 percent shooting and seventh in the league at 8.2 rebounds per game. While it took Ndongo a couple of games to get on the floor, once he was there, he gave consistent outputs around the basket. Ndongo is a strong and physical big man. He has touch but does not stray away from his duties around the basket. The 6-foot-9 post finished with six double-doubles in his freshman season and he had seven games with two or more blocks. In Georgia Tech’s final two games of the season, Ndongo finished with 21 and 22 points. He should be carrying some momentum for a freshman to sophomore year jump.

Sr. F Jamir Watkins (Florida State)

2023-24 Stats: 15.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.9 steals, 0.8 blocks, 45.7% FG, 34.4% 3P, 79.5% FT

The Buzz: The very positive success of Jamir Watkins last season almost got overshadowed by the poor year that Florida State had as a whole. Watkins finished fourth in the league with 1.9 steals per game. He also proved to be a blur in transition, quickly switching ends and finishing at and above the rim in traffic. Florida State lost scorers two through six off last season’s team, so while there will be a lot of opportunity for Watkins this season, with three D1 transfers, one JUCO transfer, and three high school recruits added to the roster, it will be interesting to see which pieces step up around the 6-foot-7 wing. Watkins was at his best in league play last season where he jumped his scoring average to 17.0 per game while shooting 35.7 percent from three.

Sr. F Ian Schieffelin (Clemson)

2023-24 Stats: 10.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks, 56.4% FG, 46.9% 3P, 73.1% FT

The Buzz: Ian Schieffelin’s 9.4 rebounds finished third in the league and led to ACC Most Improved Player honors. He was also a selection for the NCAA Tournament All-Region team after averaging 14.8 points and 9.0 rebounds en route to a Tiger run to the Elite Eight. Scheiffelin played with a nose for the basketball. While others might be bigger or more athletic, the 6-foot-8 forward seemed to consistently be in the right place and ready to make a play. Clemson lost its two leading scorers off the Elite Eight team. They added four players through the transfer portal and three freshmen. The Tigers will also implement two players who redshirted last season (Asa Thomas and Jake Heidbreder). Schieffelin finished last season with 11 double-doubles and added 19 games with three or more offensive rebounds. Clemson will need another step from the senior.