{"id":84507,"date":"2024-07-03T20:24:44","date_gmt":"2024-07-04T00:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=84507"},"modified":"2024-07-04T10:52:14","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T14:52:14","slug":"top-returning-point-guards-in-the-acc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/03\/top-returning-point-guards-in-the-acc\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Returning Point Guards in the ACC"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With the 2024-2025 college basketball season on the horizon, let\u2019s take a look at who the top returning point guards are in the ACC. Now that they\u2019ve <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/07\/02\/acc-welcoming-3-new-teams-to-league\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">added three new teams<\/a>, the Atlantic Coastal Conference will be more competitive than ever. Point Guards are the quarterbacks of the hardwood. Countless outstanding players at the position have competed in the ACC, from <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/bobby-hurley-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bobby Hurley<\/a> to <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/reece-beekman-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reece Beekman<\/a>. These guards have proven they can play at a high level, and are set to have an excellent year as the season approaches.<\/p>\n<h2>Top Returning Point Guards in the ACC<\/h2>\n<h3>Elliot Cadeau<\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/elliot-cadeau-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elliot Cadeau<\/a> had a stellar campaign last year, averaging 7.3 points and 4.1 assists. He was named to the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/awards\/men\/acc-all-frosh.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2023-24 All-ACC<\/a> Freshmen Team and boasted an assist percentage of 28.8%, which ranked <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/conferences\/acc\/men\/2024-leaders.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">sixth in the ACC<\/a>. Recently, he was invited to the 2024 <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/p\/paulch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Paul<\/a> Elite Camp along with his teammate <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/rj-davis-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">RJ Davis<\/a>. Cadeau will be asked to do more this year with the departures of <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/armando-bacot-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Armando Bacot<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/seth-trimble-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Seth Trimble<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/harrison-ingram-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Harrison Ingram<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/cormac-ryan-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cormac Ryan<\/a>. Nonetheless, he should easily transition into a larger role. He was a star for the Swedish national team at the 2022 FIBA U18 European Championship Division B. In the final game against Denmark, he had 36 points, four assists, five rebounds, and four steals, earning <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.fiba.basketball\/europe\/u18b\/2022\/news\/cadeau-collects-mvp-award-to-lead-all-star-five\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">tournament MVP<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Elliot Cadeau 2023-24 Regular Season Highlights | North Carolina Guard\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YHszwxQNIco?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Markus Burton<\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/markus-burton-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Markus Burton<\/a> was a bright spot during a down year for Notre Dame. He averaged 17.5 points per game last season and won ACC Rookie of the Year as the Fighting Irish stumbled to a 13-20 record. After withdrawing his name from the 2024 NBA draft he\u2019ll look to return to college for some unfinished business. Notre Dame only brought in one transfer, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/nikita-konstantynovskyi-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikita Konstantynovskyi<\/a>, but they did have the <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ndmbb\/status\/1801324595649065219?s=46\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">19th-ranked recruiting class<\/a> for 2024. \u00a0<a  href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/player\/sir-mohammed-46128912\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sir Mohammed<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/247sports.com\/player\/cole-certa-46135447\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cole Certa<\/a> are expected to enter the rotation as freshmen. Still, Burton won\u2019t have much help and we can expect him to have another big year as the focal point of the offense.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Markus Burton 2023-24 Regular Season Highlights | Notre Dame Guard\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/86-N7ZXHLjQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Naithan George<\/h3>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/naithan-george-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Naithan George<\/a> had a quiet, but still efficient freshman year, as he was second in the ACC in assists with nearly five per game. Georgia Tech had a rough year in Head Coach Damon Stoudemire\u2019s first season going 14-18, but that was to be expected. Now things are looking up as the team has added some great transfers, most notably combo guard <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/javian-mccollum-1.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Javian McCollum<\/a>. Some may worry that the addition of McCollum could hurt George\u2019s minutes, but McCollum is more of a scoring guard than a pass-first type point guard. In order to keep the offense flowing, the Toronto native will have to be on the floor.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Naithan George 2023-24 Regular Season Highlights | Georgia Tech Guard\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/msWJYTioGPg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h4>Ty-Laur Johnson<\/h4>\n<p><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/cbb\/players\/ty-laur-johnson-2.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ty-Laur Johnson<\/a> is departing Louisville and headed to Wake Forest after the Cardinals had a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/03\/15\/four-names-rumored-to-be-the-next-louisville-head-coach\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">disastrous season<\/a>. Now, with a new team and head coach, he should flourish. Johnson was 13th last year for steals per game in the ACC with 1.3 per game. However, he was seventh in steal percentage at 3.4%. His knack for causing opponents turnovers and passing ability should help him transition to a new team seamlessly. Not to mention, he\u2019s already familiar with most of his in-conference competition. Giving him an advantage over his peers.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ty-Laur Johnson 2023-24 Regular Season Highlights | Louisville Guard\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p5QM_-bld1c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the 2024-2025 college basketball season on the horizon, let\u2019s take a look at who the top returning point guards are in the ACC. Now that they\u2019ve added three new teams, the Atlantic Coastal Conference will be more competitive than ever. Point Guards are the quarterbacks of the hardwood. Countless outstanding players at the position [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5164,"featured_media":84574,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"1","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,773],"tags":[3120,2421,914,856,4220],"class_list":["post-84507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-college-basketball","tag-acc-basketball","tag-georgia-tech-yellow-jackets","tag-north-carolina-tar-heels","tag-notre-dame-fighting-irish","tag-wake-forest-demon-deacons"],"modified_by":"Eamon Cassels, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5164"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=84507"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84507\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=84507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=84507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=84507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}