The Ten Most Impactful Freshmen in the ACC for the 2023-24 Season

It is ACC week here at On3, and we keep the content rolling with the 2023-24 basketball season previews. Freshmen can be an interesting thing to predict. There are a lot of variables that take place when transitioning from high school to college basketball. Everything from the speed and physicality to the processing takes time to adjust.

In this piece, I take a look at the freshmen in the ACC this upcoming season. The conference, as a whole, put more of an emphasis on recruiting the transfer portal than it did in the 2023 high school class. The ACC added 47 players via the transfer route while only bringing in 40 true freshmen.

This list is not of the best player or the highest upside player; it is based on the potential impact of the player. Opportunity is a big factor here, but so is talent.

ACC Basketball Preseason Power Rankings | The Top Ten Impact Transfers in the ACC

Let’s take a look at the ten impact freshmen in the ACC for the upcoming season.

1. PG Elliot Cadeau (UNC)

The Buzz: There are a lot of expectations this season for UNC and head coach Hubert Davis. A lot of that surrounds the arrival of five-star point guard Elliot Cadeau. The 6-foot-1 point guard comes to Chapel Hill with the reputation of an excellent passer. And he showed that during his play in Nike’s EYBL Circuit this summer when he led the regular season in assists (9.3) by more than three per game. The question with Cadeau is how quickly he can get caught up to the speed of the game. With UNC being one of the biggest storylines in the ACC this year, Cadeau’s emergence could be a major factor in the success of their season. 

2. G Carlton Carrington (Pitt)

The Buzz: While it was always a possibility, the plan was for Carlton Carrington to battle with Dior Johnson to be the starter his freshman season. With Johnson now gone, Carrington should be in line to get the minutes. By all accounts, Carrington has answered the call in the preseason. The four-star recruit is listed at 6-foot-5. He has a good feel for the game and can make a read and knock down a shot. Pittsburgh made a run to the NCAA Tournament last season. They are cautiously optimistic about this roster as well. The play at the point will be a big factor in how good this Pitt team can be.

3. G Caleb Foster (Duke)

The Buzz: Caleb Foster was not a McDonald’s All-American, but he was still a top-20 recruit by On3. The 6-foot-5 guard carries a robust skill set, which should help him get on the floor early at Duke. He has good length and size, but he is also able to dribble, shoot, and pass. Foster can back up either Jeremy Roach or Tyrese Proctor at the two guard spots, or he can play alongside them in a three-guard lineup. Foster has an excellent feel for the game, with quick processing ability, and he competes. He can also really shoot the ball with consistency and range. With the early returns of him from the preseason, it could be hard to keep him off the floor.

4. G Jared McCain (Duke)

The Buzz: Jared McCain wins. He has won California State Championships, Peach Jam Championships, and USA Basketball gold medals. It has been a constant throughout his high school career. The McDonald’s All-American enters Duke with some expectations. Those expectations should be eased with how deep and talented the roster is, but whether he is starting or coming off the bench, there is a clear role for McCain to play this season. McCain is a scorer. He plays with tempo, and he can guard the ball. Duke will begin the season with national championship visions, and McCain – no matter the role – will be a pivotal piece in the rotation.

5. F Carey Booth (Notre Dame)

The Buzz: Carey Booth, the son of former NBA center and current Denver Nuggets GM Calvin Booth, has a very intriguing skill set. Still just 18, the 6-foot-10 forward moves well with great length and has touch that extends out to the three-point line. Notre Dame’s roster is thin this season, so Booth should get thrown into the fire early. He should be able to accumulate stats as he develops and gets used to the speed and physicality of the game. Micah Shrewsberry is looking to rebuild the Notre Dame program, and Booth figures to be a central piece in that. 

6. F Dennis Parker (NC State)

The Buzz: Dennis Parker was a four-star recruit out of Richmond (VA) John Marshall. That Parker-led public high school team finished ranked in the top ten in the country last season. Parker came to NC State looking to fight for a spot in the rotation with MJ Rice, Ernest Ross, and others. Rice is taking a leave of absence from the program, and reports say that Parker has been better than expected in the pre-season. Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts has had a lot of success playing four out, with two guards and two wings on the floor around a big. Parker, a connective wing who can distribute, get out in transition, and guard multiple positions, could have the inside track on playing time at one of those wing spots. NC State has NCAA Tournament hopes, and production out of that connecting wing spot is pivotal in what Keatts likes to do.

7. F Kyshawn George (Miami)

The Buzz: The story around Kyshawn George is that he is a late bloomer. George, originally from Switzerland, started high school at 5-foot-8, 130 pounds. He signed with Miami at 6-foot-6, 195 pounds. George kept the guard skills. How quickly he can get accustomed to the speed and physicality of the game will play a role in how much playing time he gets, but the early returns out of Miami are that he will certainly be in the rotation and pushing for a lot of minutes. Jim Larranaga has been to back-to-back Elite Eights, which included last year’s Final Four. Jordan Miller, a second-round NBA Draft pick this year, was a central piece in the success of what Miami did. George fits that swiss-army-knife roll with ball skills, quick processing, and shooting touch with length and size. 

8. C Dennis Evans (Louisville)

The Buzz: It might take some time for Dennis Evans, so maybe impactful is the wrong word here. Possibly intriguing could better fit as he is one of the more intriguing freshmen in the country. While he has a unique ability to protect the rim, he is also quite raw. Evans is listed at 7-foot-1, 215 pounds. His rim protection brings something to the table that is very valuable in today’s game, and that is nowhere else on the Cardinals’ roster. The physicality of the ACC game is a question mark for him. So is the processing speed. How quickly will Louisville throw him into the fire and let him play through mistakes?

9. F Taylor Bol Bowen (Florida State)

The Buzz: Taylor Bol Bowen was the only freshman Florida State brought in this season. Listed at 6-foot-10, 195 pounds, Bol Bowen has carved out a reputation as a top-notch defender. He is twitchy enough to guard on the perimeter while long and instinctive enough to switch down a guard on the block. While Bol Bowen still needs to develop on the offensive end, this season’s Florida State roster is constructed in a way that he can come along in his own time. Leonard Hamilton has had success in recent years, producing wings similar to this archetype. 

10. C Blake Buchanan (Virginia)

The Buzz: Blake Buchanan was one of the faster risers, late in the recruiting process. Listed at 6-foot-11, 215 pounds, he is big and has good hands and touch; he rebounds his area with a purpose and understands angles and walls up. With Jordan Minor on the roster, the Cavaliers will not need Buchanan to play immediately, but the high-floor nature of his game could get him on the court early. Virginia is pushing for another NCAA Tournament this season. Whether Buchanan starts or comes off the bench, the depth he provides will be helpful up front.