ACC basketball has been disrespected over the last few years. Still, the conference has tended to have programs playing when “it matters.”
The ACC, which was not that long ago considered the premier basketball conference in the nation, has received five NCAA tournament bids in each of the past three years.
Since the 2022 NCAA tournament, the ACC has received the fourth-most NCAA bids, 15, which is seven fewer than the Big 10 and just one more than the Big East. However, the ACC has the most tournament wins of any conference during this stretch, 33, and the highest winning percentage, .702.
Moreover, the ACC has had one NCAA runner-up finish, four Final Four, and six Elite Eight teams.
The ACC, like all other conferences, has also had many players transfer during this three-year period. This year is no different. Ten conference programs already have players who have entered the portal.
Louisville leads the way with 11 players in the transfer portal. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech has six players, Miami has five, and Syracuse (four) in the portal.
The ACC will also welcome three new programs beginning 2024-25 with the addition of SMU, Stanford, and California.
13 ACC Basketball Programs Have Players In Transfer Portal
Boston College Eagles
Boston College (20-14) has shown great improvement in each of the last two years under third-year coach Earl Grant. The Eagles finished the 2023-24 season with 20 wins, four more than a year ago. This marked the Eagles’ most victories since 2010-11 and their first winning campaign since 2017-18.
While BC went 8-12 in the ACC, the Eagles won two games and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second straight season. The Eagles also won a first-round game in the NIT in their first postseason appearance since 2011.
Boston College doesn’t have any players in the transfer portal. The Eagles lost leading scorer Quenten Post to graduation. The Eagles also honored Jaeden Zackery and Mason Madsen on senior day.
California Golden Bears
Cal is entering its first season in the ACC in 2024-25. The Golden Bears went 13-19 in their last year in the Pac-12, which was Mark Madsen’s first season in Berkeley. The Bears last had a winning season in 2016-17.
Cal will lose two of its top three players due to graduation. In total, the Bears could lose at least seven of its top 10 players, as they have five players in the transfer portal.
Clemson Tigers
Clemson (24-12) topped the 20-win mark for the second straight season and the fifth time under head coach Brad Brownell. The Tigers, who reached the Elite 8 for the first time since 1980, have posted 11 straight winning seasons.
Clemson doesn’t have anyone in the transfer portal. However, the Tigers will lose three players to graduation — Joe Girard III, Chase Hunter, and Jack Clark. P.J. Hall could head to the NBA.
Duke Blue Devils
Don’t worry, Duke fans, your program is just fine with Jon Schayer. The Blue Devils have gone 27-9 in each of the first two years under Schayer with two NCAA tournament appearances. The Devils reached the Elite Eight this year.
While reserve big man Ryan Young is the only player guaranteed not to return as he has run out of eligibility, there may be a huge roster shakeup. Jeremy Roach may transfer, while Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell, and Jared McClain,along with perhaps Tyrese Proctor, may bolt for the NBA.
Duke has one of the nation’s top recruiting classes in 2024.
Florida State Seminoles
Florida State bounced back from its worst season under head coach Leonard Hamilton, going from nine victories to 17. Still, the Seminoles are not the program they have been under the 75-year-old. FSU has missed the postseason the last three years and has failed to reach 20 wins in each of the previous four campaigns.
FSU will lose a few seniors, including double-figure scorer Darrin Green. The Seminoles also have five players in the transfer portal. Baba Miller is the most talented of the trio though Primo Spears and De’Ante Green were key members of the rotation.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Recently, Georgia Tech has struggled as a program, going 14-18 under first-year head coach Damon Stoudamire. The Yellow Jackets have not won more than 15 games in each of the last three years, and 18 conference wins during this stretch, although they did pick up seven ACC victories this past season.
Georgia Tech projects to return their top players, though they won’t have a few seniors. The Jackets also have two p role players in the transfer portal — Ebenezer Dowuana and Amaree Abram.
Louisville Cardinals
Louisville will be led by new coach Pat Kelsey this upcoming season, their fifth coach in eight years. Kelsey has a lot of work to do, as 12 players have entered the transfer portal. The Cardinals won eight games this past season, marking the fourth straight campaign they have failed to pick up at least 14 victories.
Top 100 2023 recruit Ty-Laur Johnson is the latest to enter the transfer portal, doing so earlier today. Johnson averaged 8.7 points and 3.6 assists while appearing in 30 games, including eight starts, for the Cards.
Lousiville’s 2023-24 leading scorer,Skyy Clark, has already found a new home with UCLA.
Kelsey has also done some work, bringing in two of his former Charleston players, James Scott and Reyne Scott.
Miami Hurricanes
Miami was one of the biggest disappointments this past season, going 15-17 and 6-14 in the ACC. The Hurricanes have finished with a losing record in four of the last six years.
Miami has five players in the portal.
Bensley Joseph is the top Hurricane player who is looking to transfer as he has been part of the team’s regular rotation the past two seasons. Joseph, who started 27 games this season, has improved each collegiate season. The 6-1 guard is known more for his defensive ability, but he is also a capable 3-point shooter.
Consensus top 100 recruits AJ Casey (2022) and Jakai Robinson (2021) have also made their plans known to leave Coral Gables. Casey and Robinson each saw a few more minutes this year than the year before, but neither cracked the 10-minute mark for the season.
Coach Jim Larranagra has already secured a commitment from Virginia Tech transfer Lynn Kidd.
North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina had another great year, though the Tar Heels season came to an earlier-than-expected end. The Tar Heels are 78-31 under Hubert Davis, including 7-2 in two NCAA tournaments. They reached the Sweet 16 this year and made a tournament finals appearance in his first year leading the program.
Armando Bacot and Cormac Ryan are out of eligibility. But RJ Davis could be back for a fifth year. No one has entered the transfer portal.
North Carolina State Wolfpack
NC State has been the biggest surprise of the NCAA tournament. The Wolfpack are in the Final Four for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 1983. The Wolfpack’s ACC and NCAA tourney runs have guaranteed coach Kevin Keatts at least two more seasons in Raleigh.
NC State will lose at least their top three players to graduation, and sophomore point guard LJ Thomas has entered the transfer portal. Seniors Mohamed Diarra and Michael O’Connell have decisions to make as they can use their COVID year.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame (13-20) had a very young squad in coach Micah Shrewsberry’s first year. While the Irish struggled early, they did win seven ACC contests and a conference tournament victory. Top 60 2023 recruit Carey Booth, who averaged 6.4 points and made 19 starts for the Irish, entered the portal on Monday, joining two seldomly used veterans.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Pitt has put together the best back-to-back seasons during Jeff Chapel’s tenure, including the program’s first consecutive 20-win season since the early 2010s.
The Panthers could have all their key performers back except for Blake Hinson, whose eligibility has expired. William Jeffress has failed to live up to his enormous hype and entered the transfer portal.
SMU Mustangs
SMU had a good last season in the AAC, winning 20 games, but the Mustangs NCAA tournament drought extended to seven years. The Mustangs 20 wins was double the number of victories they earned in coach Rob Lanier’s first season. However, Lanier left to take the job at Rice and was replaced by former USC boss Andy Enfield on Monday.
Grad Emory Lanier has transferred to Rice.
Stanford Cardinal
Stanford will have a new coach for its first season in the ACC: former Washington State top man Kyle Smith. Smith did a fine job at Wazzou, but he has his work cut out with the Cardinal.
Stanford has won 14 games in each of its last two seasons. The Cardinal last made the NCAA tournament in 2014. Since Smith recently took over the program, who knows who will stay or go? The Cardinal’s second-leading scorer, Brandon Angel, became the fifth player to enter the transfer portal when he submitted his papers earlier today.
Syracuse Orange
Syracuse’s NCAA tournament extended to three years. But the Orange won 20 games under rookie head coach Adrian Autry, marking the first time they have reached the mark since 2018-19. Talented youngsters Quadir Copeland, Maliq Brown and Justin Taylor — all of whom played a huge role this for the Orange — have joined exiled Benny Williams in the portal.
Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia has won 20-plus games for the third straight season. However, the Wahoos have not won an NCAA tournament since being crowned national champions in 2019. Coach Tony Bennett has vowed change this year.
UVa will lose two rotational players — Jordan Minor and Jacob Groves — to graduation, though Reece Beekman could return for a fifth year. The Cavaliers do not have a player in the transfer portal.
Virginia Tech Hokies
Virginia Tech extended two streaks by finishing 19-15. The Hokies, 92-66 under head coach Mike Young, have finished with at least a .500 record in five straight years. The Hokies also haven’t won a NCAA tournament game during this span, though they have only earned two tournament bids.
Tech has six players in the transfer portal, including four of their top five. Hunter Cattoor, the only player not in the portal of this group, is out of eligibility. Sean Pedulla, Lynn Kidd, Tyler Nickel, and MJ Collins are the top players who could transfer out of Blacksburg.
Kidd, who committed to Miami, is the second Hokie transfer to commit. Rodney Rice, a top 60 2022 recruit, moved to Maryland on March 24.
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest has had a resurgence under Steve Forbes, winning at least 19 games and 10 ACC contests in each of the last three seasons. The Demon Deacons went 21-14 last season, marking the second time they have topped the 20-victory mark in three seasons. Prior to these two campaigns, the Demon Deacs last won 20 contests in 2009- 10.
Wake has three players in the transfer portal, including second-leading scorer Kevin Miller. Domari Monsanto, who saw his role dramatically decreased this past season, is also in the portal.
