Basketball season just continues to creep closer, and depending on how the Tar Heels do this week against Clemson (or for some it really doesn’t matter), that season can’t get here quick enough. So with that in mind, let’s continue to look at some of the players we will be seeing this ACC basketball season, […]
Basketball season just continues to creep closer, and depending on how the Tar Heels do this week against Clemson (or for some it really doesn’t matter), that season can’t get here quick enough. So with that in mind, let’s continue to look at some of the players we will be seeing this ACC basketball season, turning our attention away from the returnees and instead looking at some of the newcomers — this time the transfer guys.
Since the previous post focused on guys who played in the ACC last season, whether for the same school or not, this one will be looking just at guys who transferred in from new conferences. Just as was the case with the returning players, this is not necessarily a list of the best players in the conference, but just the most impactful transfer for each team.
With that all worked out, lets look at each school’s impact transfer for next season (the schools are listed in alphabetical order).
Boston College
G Chase Forte (South Dakota State)
Forte, who is transferring to his fourth school in as many seasons, was first team all-conference and Defensive Player of the Year last season in the Summit League. Forte led the Coyotes in points, assists, and steals last season for a team that won 19 games and finished fifth in the conference. He is one of four new transfers for the Eagles, and along with returning guard Donald Hand Jr, will give Boston College quite a dangerous backcourt. It is probably a good thing that UNC avoids the Eagles this season as Forte, a senior from Raleigh, would probably score at least 30 points as the traditional former in-state player who goes off against the Tar Heels.
California
F Milos Ilic (Loyola Maryland)
The Golden Bears bring in eight transfers this season, including the son of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, led by two double-digit scorers in Ilic and John Camden (Delaware). Ilic gets the call here as he was second team all-conference player for the Greyhounds last season as he led the team in points, rebounds, and assists. Ilic and Camden will both be tasked with helping fill the void left by Andrej Stojakovic (on an added note: if Stojakovic had stayed, Cal would’ve had three sons of former NBA players as Stephon Marbury II is also on the team).
Clemson
F Carter Welling (Utah Valley)
The Tigers are bringing in six transfers, including three double-digit scorers in Welling, Nick Davidson (Nevada), and Jestin Porter (Middle Tennessee), to help bolster a squad that lost most of its players from a team that finished last season tied for second in the conference. Last season, Welling was an all-conference player and defensive player of the year in the WAC, as he led the Wolverines in rebounds and blocks en route to a first-place finish in the regular season. Along with Davidson, Clemson will have a pair of 6’10” players who each averaged more than one block a game last season.
Duke
G Jack Scott (Princeton)
The Blue Devils really wanted this to be Cedric Coward, but after the forward from Washington State stayed in the draft, the answer to this question became a lot more dicey. Scott gets the nod barely over fellow transfer forward Ifeanyi Ufochukwu (Rice), based on playing for a team that finished third in its conference (versus 12th) and for having slightly better stats (1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg vs 1.8 ppg, .8 rpg). Ufochukwu also didn’t play last season. Regardless, if either of these guys play major minutes for Duke this season, something has gone terribly wrong in Durham.
Florida State
G Robert McCray V (Jacksonville)
The Seminoles bring in new coach Luke Loucks to replace long mainstay Leonard Hamilton, and with him come seven transfers, including four that scored in double digits last season. McCray V led the Dolphins in points and assists last season while also gaining first team all-conference honors in the ASUN. McCray V will join Martin Somerville (UMass Lowell), Lajae Jones (St. Bonaventure), and Kobe MaGee (Drexel) to help Loucks transition from an NBA assistant to a college head coach replacing a legend.
Georgia Tech
G Lamar Washington (Pacific)
Washington is one of four new transfers to join the Yellow Jackets this season. Washington was a second team all-conference player in the WCC last season where he led the Tigers in assists and steals. Along with fellow double-digit scoring transfer guard Kam Craft (Miami Ohio) and returning forward Baye Ndongo, Washington should help give the Yellow Jackets a strong trio for coach Damon Stoudamire to work with.
Louisville
G Adrian Wooley (Kennesaw State)
The Cardinals only bring in three transfers to a team that finished tied for second in the ACC, but all three should have an impact on a team that is picked by many to win the ACC this year. Wooley, who led the Owls in points, assists, and steals last season as a freshman, barely beats out guards Ryan Conwell (Xavier) and ineligible (for this list due to previous ACC experience) Isaac McKneely (UVA) for the nod here. The former CAA first team and rookie of the year guard will probably come off the bench for Louisville to start the season, but if he can build on what he did last season he could quickly become an important piece for head coach Pat Kelsey.
Miami
F Malik Reneau (Indiana)
After being the only team not to have player listed in the returning conference players list, it would’ve been really sad if the Hurricanes had no one on this list too. Reneau is one of six transfers, three of whom scored in double digits last season, to join a Miami team coached by new coach Jai Lucas who is replacing another coaching legend in Jim Larranaga. Reneau, an all-conference honorable mention in the Big Ten who led the Hoosiers in points, will be joined by fellow Big Ten guard Tre Donaldson (Michigan) and guard Tru Washington (New Mexico) to try to help the first-time head coach get Miami out of the bottom of the ACC.
North Carolina
F Henri Veesaar (Arizona)
It was a tough decision between Veesaar and guard Kyan Evans (Colorado State), though ultimately Veesaar is the choice here due to size being such a glaring hole on last season’s Tar Heels squad. The seven foot former Wildcat, who led his team in blocks, will look to anchor a UNC squad that was way too small last season. Meanwhile, Evans will help returning senior Seth Trimble and international player Luka Bogavac handle the ball as embattled coach Hubert Davis looks to work in six transfers this season.
North Carolina State
F Darrion Williams (Texas Tech)
The Wolfpack are one of four ACC schools to bring in a new coach this season, though unlike the other three, new head coach Will Wade will not be replacing a school legend. However, like the other three, Wade will be bringing in a new group of players (nine transfers), including two from his former McNeese State team in guards Alyn Breed and Quadir Copeland. However, Williams, a first team all-conference player, is the crown jewel of this group after he finished second on the Red Raiders in points, rebounds, assists, and steals as they finished second in the Big 12 and made the Elite Eight in the big dance.
Notre Dame
F Carson Towt (Northern Arizona)
Towt is just one of two transfers, the other being forward Matthew Maclellan (Madonna University), to join the Fighting Irish this year. Towt, who was second team All-Big Sky and led the Lumberjacks in rebounds and blocks, will join the potent returning duo of Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry as Notre Dame looks to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022 in coach Micah Shrewsberry’s third season.
Pittsburgh Panthers
F Barry Dunning Jr (South Alabama)
The Panthers are bringing in four transfers this season, led by Dunning Jr who led the Jaguars in points and rebounds as the team finished tied for third in the Sun Belt last season. The first team all-conference player will be joined by guard Demarco Minor (Oregon State) and center Dishon Jackson (Iowa State) as Pittsburgh tries to replace leading scorer Jaland Lowe this season and make the tournament for just the second time under coach Jeff Capel.
SMU
G Jaron Piere Jr. (Jacksonville State)
Piere Jr joins forward Corey Washington (Wichita State) as the two double-digit scorers in this five man transfer class. The reigning CUSA player of the year, who led the Gamecocks in scoring and assists, will look to help returning guard Boopie Miller as the Mustangs try to build upon their surprise fourth place finish in their first season in the ACC last year.
Stanford
F AJ Rohosy (Clairemont Mudd Scripps)
The Cardinal are bringing in just two transfers this season, both lower level players in Rohosy (DIII) and guard Jeremy Dent Smith (Cal State Dominguez Hills, NAIA), to a team that is returning nine players from last season’s 21-win squad. Rohosy, who started his career at Washington State before transferring to the Stags and averaging a double-double last season on his way to second team DIII All-American status, will undoubtedly be tasked with trying to fill the shoes of ACC first-team forward Maxim Raynaud, who led Stanford in points, rebounds, and blocks last season.
Syracuse
G Nate Kingz (Oregon State)
The Orange bring in six new transfers this season, led by guards Naithan George (Georgia Tech) and Kingz. Kingz (who finished third in points for the Beavers) and George will join returning guard JJ Starling and forward Donnie Freeman as Syracuse looks to make the tournament for the first time in coach Adrian Autry’s head coaching career.
Virginia
G Malik Thomas (San Francisco)
The Cavaliers are the fourth ACC team to be bringing in a brand new coach, and much like two of the other three, replacing a former legend. Setting up in the office of Tony Bennett, new coach Ryan Odom is restocking the team with seven transfers, led by Thomas. Thomas, a WCC first team selection who led the Dons in points and steals, along with double-digit scoring guards Jacari White (North Dakota State) and Sam Lewis (Toledo) and forward Devin Tillis (UC Irvine) will look to help Odom push Virginia, which is only returning two redshirted players, back up to the top of the ACC.
Virginia Tech
G Izaiah Pasha (Delaware)
The Hokies will bring in three transfers to a team that got 60% of their wins in ACC play last season (they were 5-7 in non conference play, 8-12 in the conference). Pasha, who led the Blue Hens in assists, will be joined by guard Jailen Bedford (UNLV) and forward Amani Hansberry (West Virginia) as they try to help coach Mike Young take Virginia Tech to the NCAA tournament for the third time since arriving in Blacksburg (he went five times at Wofford).
Wake Forest
F Cooper Schwieger (Valpariso)
Schwieger leads a group of five transfers, including double-digit scoring guards Nate Calmese (Washington State) and Summit League Rookie of the Year Sebastian Akins (Denver) to join head coach Steve Forbes in his sixth season with the Demon Deacons. Schwiger, the second team All-MVC player who led the Beacons in points, rebounds and blocks, will look to help offset the loss of first team All-ACC guard Hunter Sallis, who led the Deacs in points and assists, as Wake Forest looks to avenge their tourney snub last season.
Category: General Sports
