The ACC Tournament has lost a bit of luster after North Carolina’s freshman phenom Caleb Wilson broke his thumb, ending his campaign. However, this league will still be entertaining from Tuesday all the way through the end of the season.
The spotlight will be immense on Cam Boozer at Duke, but this league has far
more to offer than just Duke and its star freshman. Let’s dive in.
The known commodities
Cam Boozer (F, Duke)
Season stats: 22.7 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists
What’s left to be said about Cam Boozer that hasn’t already been said? This is, without a doubt, the national player of the year in this sport. He’s shooting nearly 60% from the floor and over 40% from downtown. As a big, this is unheard of for a guy with that much usage and attention. And to top it all off, with Duke missing starting point guard Caleb Foster, expect to see Boozer on ball even more. No offense to his brother, Cayden, but he’s not a starting level guard. Let’s put the ball in Cam’s hand and unleash the beast. Draft range: Top three
Mikel Brown Jr. (G, Louisville)
Season stats: 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists
Some might hesitate to put Mikel Brown Jr. in this spot still, as his back injury has magically reappeared in our lives. However, the talent says this is still a top eight pick in this draft, and I will trust that unwaveringly. In his final eight games before injury, Mikel averaged 22.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 47% from the floor, 46% from three and 88% at the line. In this tournament, and the big one next week, he needs to get back to that form. Draft range: Five to nine.
The guards
Ebuka Okorie (G, Stanford)
Season stats: 23.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists
What if I told you there was a true freshman guard who was scoring 23 a game on 46/36/83 shooting splits in the ACC. You’d probably think it’s Mikel Brown, right? Wrong, because in this case the ACC stands for “all coast conference”! Let’s introduce you to Ebuka Okorie, a true freshman out of the Brewster Academy in New Hampshire. This is a microwave scorer, who has eclipsed 40 points on the year already and just gave NC State 33 in a road win. He might just transfer to a power school for next year, but this kid is a pro. Draft range: Late first round if he comes out, but I’m not sure he will.
Seth Trimble (G, North Carolina)
Season stats: 14.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists
The shooting numbers won’t jump off the page, but seeing Trimble play has me putting him higher on the board than most would. He is an excellent transition player, guards hard, and is a smart guy who can absolutely fill out an NBA roster. Plus, he’s forever a Carolina legend for that shot. Draft range: Second round.
Juke Harris (G/F, Wake Forest)
Season stats: 21.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Harris is an unheralded guy, as he is a volume scorer for the most part offensively. But this is a guy who can get some rebounds for you. At 6’7”, you would like to think you can leverage his size and have him be a good defender. Harris isn’t there yet, but the tools are intriguing if you’re after a flyer. Draft range: Early second round.
The frontcourt
Henri Veesar (C, Duke)
Season stats: 16.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Veesar is a perplexing prospect to me. The shooting numbers are outrageous for a seven footer, as he’s over 41% from three and 61% from the floor. But he is one of the softest players I’ve ever seen in big games. Against Duke both times, this is a guy who wanted absolutely nothing to do with the physicality of Cam Boozer and the Duke front line. Additionally, as a good three point shooter, why are we only 62% from the foul line? I just leave every game with him asking more questions. Draft range: Second round.
Darrion Williams (F, North Carolina State)
Season stats: 14.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Speaking of perplexing, what in the absolute world has this season been? The Wolfpack paid TOP dollar to pry Williams out of Lubbock (and the NBA Draft, for that matter), and what they have gotten is not worth the dollars they paid. Williams is up at 39% from three this year, but this team just reeks of horrific vibes. Remember how I said Ebuka Okorie had 33 in a win at NC State last weekend? Darrion Williams, senior leader of NC State, had two points. TWO! I just have no idea. Draft range: Second round, if that.
