College basketball insider reveals top 15 impact freshmen entering the ACC

Each college basketball season, it seems there are always numerous freshmen who find a way to make an impact in the ACC. Last year we had the likes of Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin and Trevor Keels, all of whom starred for Duke on the Blue Devils’ run to the Final Four before departing for NBA careers.

This year’s incoming group of freshman talent figures to be even more exciting, with eight of the top 50 players according to On3’s 2022 Consensus Rankings committed to an ACC school. As part of his 2022-23 ACC season preview, college basketball insider Jon Rothstein took the liberty of ranking the top 15 impact freshmen in the conference.

Duke once again dominated the recruiting trail, claiming six of the 15 freshmen on Rothstein’s list. The Blue Devils signed the No. 1 recruiting class in the country this offseason according to On3’s Team Rankings, highlighted by three five-star players. North Carolina is the only other school with multiple players on Rothstein’s list with two.

Below is the full list, in no particular order:

• C Dereck Lively, Duke
• SF Dariq Whitehead, Duke
• PF Kyle Filipowski, Duke
• SF Mark Mitchell, Duke
• PG Tyrese Proctor, Duke
• SG Jaden Schutt, Duke
• G JJ Starling, Notre Dame
• PG Seth Trimble, North Carolina
• PF Jalen Washington, North Carolina
• G Judah Mintz, Syracuse
• PG Dior Johnson, Pitt
• PF Isaac Traudt, Virginia
• SG Rodney Rice, Virginia Tech
• SF Kamari Lands, Louisville
• G Chandler Jackson, Florida State

More on the top 15 ACC freshmen

Not only does Duke have to replace longtime coach Mike Krzyzewski this season, but also four of its five starters. Whitehead and Lively rank as the No. 1 and No. 2 players respectively according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. Filipowski comes in not far behind them at No. 5.

Starling comes in and the next-highest rated recruit on the list at No. 17 overall. Notre Dame saw its freshman phenom from last season, Blake Wesley, leave early for the NBA, so Starling could contribute right away for the Fighting Irish.

North Carolina returns plenty after finishing runner-up in the NCAA Tournament this past season, but also adds three top 100 players to increase the depth on its roster. Trimble, a point guard out of Wisconsin, is the highest ranked of that group coming in at No. 41 overall.

Pittsburgh and Syracuse are the only other teams in the conference to sign a player inside the top 50.