Chip Bremer
With all the new faces around the ACC men’s basketball landscape, fans will need a “Who’s Who” guide for this upcoming season. Luckily, we’ve already compiled a list of the top five ACC newcomers who are expected to have the most significant impact on their teams and the postseason outlook of the conference as a whole. Watch these guys closely–because they probably won’t be around next year.
Cameron Boozer, Duke
The much bigger and more powerful of the freshman Boozer twins, Cameron (at 6/8, 235) is a bull shark when it comes to patrolling the paint and as dominant a force along the baseline as we’ll see in college basketball. He has a lot of the same attributes as his father, Carlos, when it comes to sheer physicality, but he has an inside-outside game that makes him virtually unstoppable with the ball in his hands. He may not have the fluidity of Cooper Flagg, but he operates with such a refined skillset that his touches equate to automatic buckets. it’s no stretch to say he has the tools–offensively and defensively–to be the most dominant low-post presence in a Duke uniform since Elton Brand. When someone asks why the expectations for the Blue Devils remain so high this season, Boozer is reason #1.
Luka Bogavac, UNC
The Tar Heels actually have a few individuals who could land on this list, like freshman phenom Caleb Wilson or Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, but it’s the European-born Bogavac who will have the most significant impact on UNC’s success this season. The 6/6, 22-year-old Montenegrin wing is extremely gifted as a shooter and playmaker, and he facilitates offensive sets with such ease, it’s difficult to find a modern comparison, but some think of him as a poor man’s Peja Stojakovic. During his time playing for SC Derby in the ABA where he averaged 14.9 ppg, Bogavac demonstrated an outstanding feel for the game, spacing the floor, knocking down long-distance jumpers, and creating opportunities for others. For a team that struggled to find a reliable perimeter threat last season, the Tar Heels desperately need Bogavac to be that guy from the very start–and he’s already proven he can do it.
Darrion Williams, NC State
The centerpiece of first-year head coach Will Wade’s nationally ranked transfer portal class, Williams is the ultimate weapon when it comes to creating offense at the highest level. The versatile 225-pound forward is highly skilled at both ends of the floor and possesses a high basketball IQ that few can display at his position. While only listed at 6/5, Williams plays with such force and tenacity reminiscent of Hornets star Grant Williams, and his all-around scoring ability will allow him to wreak havoc on opponents at will as he did at Texas Tech a year ago. He’ll be a fan favorite in Raleigh from day one and the key to putting the Wolfpack back in the national spotlight.
Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
As a follow up to Cardinals’ amazing turnaround season a year ago, head coach Pat Kelsey brought in a slew of high-profile guards from the transfer portal to fill out the backcourt vacancies but make no mistake – the 6/3 Brown is easily his most important addition. The freshman All-American is everything a coach could want in a point guard–versatile, explosive, creative, confident and a consummate leader. Early practices showed his outstanding court vision, scoring ability and high aptitude for finding open teammates. Mature beyond his years, Brown often makes the game look easy when the ball is in his hands, often showcasing a skillset reminiscent of Darius Garland or Rajon Rondo. He’ll be the ACC’s best lead guard this season, and it won’t even be close.
Jalen Haralson, Notre Dame
If the Fighting Irish are going to make their move to join the ACC elite, the backcourt tandem of Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry will be a major factor, but the real reason will be the emergence of Haralson as the team’s go-to superstar. The 6/7 freshman isn’t the most explosive forward, but he is a strong, physical wing who can score from the perimeter as well as finish at the rim through contact. He also possesses a high basketball acumen allowing him to move
efficiently without the ball, space the floor, hound opponents defensively and create opportunities off the dribble. If he continues on his current trajectory, he could easily find himself squarely in the 2026 NBA Draft.