Can Duke repeat? Louisville and Clemson were the surprise teams last season. They won’t sneak up on anyone this season. Can Hubert Davis’ Tar Heels rebound from a down year? Can Will Wade bring his McNeese State magic to NC State?
We polled writers within the USA TODAY Network who cover ACC schools for their preseason predictions, all-conference teams and preseason awards.
You can watch ACC media days on the ACC Network, starting 1 p.m., Tuesday and again at 9 a.m., Wednesday.
USA TODAY Network ACC basketball preseason poll
Duke
Louisville
NC State
North Carolina
Virginia
Miami
SMU
Notre Dame
Clemson
Syracuse
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Pittsburgh
Georgia Tech
Florida State
Cal
Stanford
Boston College
2025-26 preseason All-ACC basketball team
FIRST TEAM
Darrion Williams, NC State, forward, Sr. (unanimous selection)
Cameron Boozer, Duke, forward, Fr. (unanimous selection)
Markus Burton, Notre Dame, guard, Jr.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville, guard, Fr.
Ryan Conwell, Louisville, guard, Sr.
SECOND TEAM
Malik Reneau, Miami, forward, Sr.
Henri Veesaar, North Carolina, center, Jr.
Caleb Wilson, North Carolina, forward, Fr.
Isaiah Evans, Duke, guard, So.
Seth Trimble, North Carolina, guard, Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
Clemson: Nick Davidson
Georgia Tech: Baye Ndongo
Louisville: Isaac McKneely, J’Vone Hadley
Miami: Tre Donaldson
NC State: Tre Holloman
SMU: Boopie Miller
Syracuse: Naithan George, JJ Starling
Virginia: Johann Grunloh, Malik Thomas
Virginia Tech: Neoklis Avdalas
ACC basketball preseason Player of the Year
Duke freshman Cameron Boozer was named on 56% of the ballots, edging out NC State’s Darrion Williams. The 6-9 Boozer is the heir apparent to Cooper Flag and is a projected top-three pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
ACC basketball preseason Newcomer of the Year
NC State forward Darrion Williams was a runaway winner. The Texas Tech transfer was named on 78% of the ballots. Louisville newcomers Ryan Conwell (Xavier transfer) and Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State transfer) also received votes.
A first-team All-Big 12 pick, Williams was among the top players in the portal after averaging 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists for the Red Raiders last season. He showed up in the NCAA tournament, scoring 28 points in a second-round win over Drake and 23 against eventual national champion Florida in the Elite Eight. He’ll be key to Will Wade’s turnaround in Raleigh.
ACC basketball preseason Freshman of the Year
Duke forward Cameron Boozer got all but one vote (Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr., got the other). Boozer, the son of former Duke star and two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, joins Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils alongside twin brother Cayden. A three-level scorer, Boozer should hit the ground running in Durham.