2025-26 ACC Conference Preview
The No Ceilings team continues their annual tradition of Conference Previews, continuing today with the ACC.
The start of the college basketball season is right around the corner, and the NBA season is now fully underway. While some of the top overseas prospects have already started their seasons internationally, the NCAA players are working through their exhibition games before the 2025-26 season officially begins.
Before that, though, we’re diving deep into the 2026 NBA Draft class with our traditional conference preview roundtables. Without further ado, here is our fourth conference roundtable on the Big Ten.
Enjoy, No Ceilings family!
1. Ignore “consensus” boards and Twitter groupthink. Who is the best NBA prospect in this conference?
Rucker: The Booz Cruise. Cameron Boozier for me. This has the makings of a special talent for Duke fans, and enjoy the experience while you can. Boozer is a winner who is as tough as they come when it comes to big men prospects roaming the paint. He’s an absolute force around the basket who plays the game with great feel and composure. A master of the little things, don’t get bored with Boozer. His game won’t dominate the “highlight machines” out there, but his film will.
Maxwell: It’s Cameron Boozer, and I think he still might be underrated. He’s a big dude with awesome feel who can score at multiple levels, sling the ball, own the boards, and hold his own against a variety of player types on defense. I’m very, very in.
Metcalf: Cam Boozer—the best, most productive, winning player who’ll get described as “boring.” He’s so good and does all the little things on both ends that coaches dream of. Don’t overthink him.
Stephen: I’m gonna go chalk here and pick the legacy prospect, Cameron Boozer of Duke. While Darry Peterson and AJ Dybantsa will likely make their rounds on social media highlight reels, Boozer could be like a horror movie monster and slowly lurk his way into being the #1 pick. Not very many prospects come with the accolades, DNA, and attention to detail that Cam has. He gives a ton of versatility on defense, while showing the ability to score from multiple spots on the floor. He’s also an instinctive passer for his position. Is the game boring? Only if you get tired of watching winning, I guess.
Corey: If any of the No Ceilings crew lists anyone besides Cam Boozer, I may have to fire them. Boozer is the most dominant high school prospect I have ever scouted in person. He approaches the game in the most Tim Duncan-esque way possible. Not stylistically, but in quiet dominance. I have always believed he has more perimeter creation juice than he has been given credit for, and if he gets to show that off this year, he is a very legitimate candidate to be the best prospect in this class.
Jacob: No question, Cameron Boozer. One of the most accomplished and dominant high school basketball players of all time. For such a young player, Boozer’s game is incredibly polished. He’s strong with the ball and scores in a multitude of ways. Physically, he can hold his own against stronger and faster guys. Boozer’s a natural playmaking hub, generating offense from both the high and low post while making smart decisions with the rock. His range has consistently expanded, although his form is a bit rigid. Boozer should join an elite club of Duke forwards that excel in college and thrive in the NBA.
Rowan: This one is easy, as I think that Duke’s Cam Boozer is the best prospect in the country this season. There are a few players who have been so consistent and so dominant as to lull people to sleep with their greatness in the way that Boozer has throughout his career so far. He has few flaws, virtually no major faults, and is a high-level rebounder, rim protector, and finisher. His athleticism, playmaking, and jump shooting are all top-notch, too, which makes him not only the best draft prospect in the ACC but likely in the draft class itself.
Nathan: Cameron Boozer is the #1 prospect for me in the 2026 NBA Draft class. He’s a physically dominant forward who has every skill in the book that I would want a modern basketball player to have. He can handle, finish, and pass with both hands. He’s improved as a shooter on the move, not just in pick-and-pop situations. Boozer is one of the best rebounding prospects I’ve seen, and has enough defensive versatility to envision him playing center in smaller lineups, while also supporting a traditional big for longer stretches. I just don’t see the weaknesses in his game outside of him MAYBE not being the same high-volume offensive creator that a Darryn Peterson or AJ Dybantsa could become. But when you stack his total package against the entirety of Peterson and Dybantsa’s games, not to mention Boozer’s insane pedigree as a prospect that’s only rivaled and surpassed by Luka Doncic’s overseas dominance in recent memory, THAT guy in Boozer is the clear top prospect for me in the land, not just the ACC.
Nick: Not to add to the chorus, but it’s Cam Boozer with a bullet. He’s the #2 prospect on my board at this point, and he’s a factor in every area of the game. He just seems to make the right play every time, and finds ways to contribute no matter what—on his bad scoring nights, he playmakes and locks down the interior defensively and on the glass. He plays the game with the maturity of a decade-long vet, and he really doesn’t have any holes in his game. It’s hard for me to believe that he won’t be one of the first players to hear his name called on Draft Night—if not the first.
2. Admittedly, one of the most satisfying parts of analyzing the draft is being able to look back and say, “Psh, about time you guys took notice of him. I’ve been hyping him up for ages.” Who is the prospect that you are irrationally high on?
Rucker: There’s just something special about Louisville incoming freshman Mikel Brown Jr. Yes, I know that most are considering Brown a Top 5 prospect, but I think he’s cemented at #4 for me. There’s still a lot of his game I want to see develop, but the growth that Brown has shown from his time at Nike Hoop Summit is remarkable. Brown is a talented guard who plays the game with great poise and feel. If you watched him this summer during FIBA play, you know just how dangerous Brown can get on the court. Louisville is going to have an awesome backcourt this year, so Brown might not always be the box score eye-candy…but I have no doubt he’s going to be a heck of a talent this year.
Maxwell: Ryan Conwell at Louisville. I’ve been hyping him up since his Indiana State days! The skill sell is that he’s an otherworldly shooter who makes threes efficiently on high volume. He’s so dynamic. He can pull up, back pedal into a three, run into it, or move right or left into his jumper. But it’s the physical component that’s so interesting to me. He’s built like a tank! We’ve seen guards who might lack traditional point guard skills get over the hump on the backs of their shooting, but few of them even bring the level of physicality to the table that Conwell is capable of. I think the jumper is an NBA-caliber weapon, and that he’s uniquely prepared for the league relative to others of his archetype.
Metcalf: I’m going with Henri Veesaar. I had a first round grade on him last year before he withdrew, and I think he was one of the best transfer gets for anyone this year. He’s an awesome defender, has a great motor, smart passer, and I buy the shot. I think he was a tremendous get for North Carolina.
Stephen: I love Nikolas [K]hamenia (don’t pronounce the “K”). For one, he isn’t going to be “the man” playing with Cam Boozer. This allows teams to evaluate him in his natural state: a very strong and capable “Robin”. At 6’8”, Khamenia gives you very good ball skill, live-dribble playmaking, and I’m confident in his shooting projection. The biggest thing that I would love for him to improve this season is to grow as a defender. The tools and intellect are there for him to be a difference maker. I just buy the size and feel intersection.
Corey: I was a big fan of Darren Harris’ game coming out of high school. Harris didn’t earn the minutes last year on that loaded Duke squad that I thought he could play his way into, and when he did get on the floor, he looked sped up and rushed. And yet, I love what I’ve seen from him in the scrimmage and exhibition vs. UCF this offseason, so I’m buying back in. Harris shoots the lights out, and his game is buttery smooth. I’m ready to be hurt again.
Jacob: I saw Dame Sarr’s first-ever start for FC Barcelona live last year, and since then, I can’t get enough of him. He plays with a certain composure that screams confidence. While having coveted size on the wing, his fluidity pops. Sarr glides across the floor, knowing when to accelerate and catch the defender on their heels. He’s progressed as a finisher, embracing contact and rising strong above-the-rim. Sure, he’s raw and has yet to put it all together. However, many of his flaws are fixable, given his athletic profile. The handle needs tightening up, and he needs to make quicker decisions on both ends of the floor, but the flashes are undeniable. When you combine his physicals with the fact that he’s already held his own at a high level, it’s hard not to be bullish.
Rowan: SMU’s Jaden Toombs had a surging senior season that catapulted him into real draft consideration, but he’s been a stretch big darling prospect of mine for longer than that. While he’s still improving as an athlete, Toombs’s shooting, touch around the rim, and instincts on defense have carried him wonderfully so far in his career. It’ll be a step up in athletic competition in the ACC, but Toombs is more prepared to make an impact than many anticipate immediately.
Nathan: I’m a sucker for point guards who know how to play with craft, force, and have the passing chops to connect the dots for everyone else. Cayden Boozer has transformed into one of the most complete freshman guards coming into college basketball. He can finish at the rim, connect on floaters, operate in pick-and-roll, and is a real threat in transition. He’s not nearly the type of shooter that Louisville’s Mikel Brown is, hence why Brown is higher on my preseason board. But if Boozer can improve as a defender and become even a respectable catch-and-shoot threat from deep, he has a real chance to sneak into late lottery conversations in the 2026 draft.
Nick: Nik Khamenia hasn’t gotten as much attention as his Duke teammate, but I’m fully anticipating him proving himself as an elite prospect pretty quickly. Players his size at 6’8” with his shooting touch and feel for the game don’t come around every day.
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3. Unfortunately, there are two sides to that coin, and they do not have equal probabilities. Which prospect do you like but think has the most likely chance of failing to meet expectations?
Rucker: It’s okay, Stephen; I’m going to throw one out that’s not going to be popular as well. I’m going to go with a twin brother for this answer. It’s Cayden Boozer for me. I think that Cayden has the tools to be a really solid guard for the foreseeable future. I’m just not ready to pencil him in as a surefire one-and-done. With the way that college hoops has trended, we have seen plenty of prospects who decide to return for another year if they aren’t a “slam-dunk” Top 25 selection. Right now, I think Cayden could be one of those names that could find himself debating that decision. However, there’s a lot of intrigue when it comes to his size and such. I’m going to be patient with him, because I think this could be a prospect in which the film could tell a different story.
Maxwell: This one is going to polarize me amongst our crew, but it’s Isaiah Evans. This is a dangerous one, as he so clearly has an NBA-level gift as a three-point shooter. But I have immense worries about his physicality and the remainder of his skill set. There’s no downhill game, he’s not much of a passer, he doesn’t rebound, and he’s not bringing much to the table defensively. On nights when the shot isn’t falling, he’s going to be a negative value player. Maybe I’m focusing too much on what he isn’t rather than what he is, which is a guy who made over 40% of his threes on ridiculous volume as a freshman. But in my heart of hearts, I’m left wanting more.
Metcalf: I’ve never really gotten the intrigue with Darrion Williams. By no means is he a bad player; I just struggle seeing how it translates to the NBA. His bully ball stuff is great in college, but will it hold up against NBA guys? I just always come away from his tape feeling meh. I say all this while also thinking that he’ll be a good player for North Carolina State.
Stephen: Man, I could get cooked here, but I just don’t get it with Neoklis Avdalas. Now, I get the “idea” of what people want him to be, but I just don’t see it in his film. He’s tall at 6’6” for a lead guard, but I don’t see much burst or verticality. But he routinely shows many unforced errors as a playmaker. He can be predictable as a driver. His misses are a bit all over the place. On defense, he doesn’t play with much fundamentals and is pretty reactionary. If you’re a lead guy, I need to believe in your on-ball scoring, and you should have awesome and consistent processing. I have many questions in those areas–not to mention how he adjusts to American hoops. I hope I am wrong, but I just don’t buy the hype coming into the season.
Corey: The calculator crew might cook me but I’m going to go with Paul McNeil from NC State. I completely get the intrigue with McNeil. He’s a tallish wing shooter who has displayed some nice ancillary ballhandling and playmaking feel. His advanced statistical profile should put him on the radar as a potential breakout guy. As of now there have been some lofty expectations put on that breakout. Color me interested as a guy to monitor, I’m just going to have to see him earn consistent minutes before I buy all the way in.
Jacob: At this rate, am I only doing a Duke season preview? Anyway, my pick here is Nikolas Khamenia. He’s superskilled for a big man. There’s a versatile scoring game, with a range that extends way downtown, all while being a crafty passer. My two main concerns revolve around his physical profile and his pathway to minutes. He doesn’t move the best both horizontally and vertically, boasting matchup problems on the perimeter. Right now, his body isn’t ready for battles down low, as he’ll be moved off his spot. There isn’t much appeal as a shot blocker, as he takes time to get off the ground, and he isn’t the longest and most coordinated. Cameron Boozer, Patrick Ngongba II, and Maliq Brown will all have priority in the rotation, leading me to see Khamenia staying another year in college and failing to meet expectations.
Rowan: I like most of the moves that Will Wade has made for NC State, including bringing in Darrion Williams, but I’m not sure it was the best move for his draft stock. Despite his smooth and talented two-way profile, there’s too much uncertainty surrounding Williams with this year’s Wolfpack team to know if he can build upon his last successful season. Although NC State should be good, Williams may end up slotting into a role that doesn’t keep him on an upward trajectory as a draft prospect.
Nathan: I REALLY want this player to be awesome and firmly in the mix for the 2026 NBA Draft, but I’m still skeptical about Dame Sarr’s FIT in the NBA. From a pure talent standpoint, Sarr has the measurables and athleticism to get taken in the lottery. Defensively, everything we keep hearing out of practices and scrimmages is that he’s the type of versatile defender that can hold his own anywhere on the perimeter, and his length helps him bother forwards and drivers to the basket. But offensively, he reminds me so much of Isaac Bonga, a player who had buzz before his draft but never quite found a home on an NBA roster because the shot wasn’t fully there for him to get the on-ball reps that were warranted of his skill set. Sarr is the same kind of downhill scorer who can pass and really set guys up, but he lacks a clean jumper to tie more of his game together. Sarr could put everything together and make me even uttering this paragraph useless come June. But I have questions whether the NBA has figured out how to utilize a player like Sarr if the jumper doesn’t come around to the degree scouts would like it to before he enters the league.
Nick: Plenty of people are predicting that this will be a breakout season for Pat Ngongba II. I think it’s entirely possible, but I do have my reservations. Even with his incredible tools and exceptional finishing around the basket, I’m still worried about his propensity for defensive mistakes; he was insanely foul-prone in his limited minutes last year, and was way too eager to bite on fakes. He certainly has the talent to be a lottery pick, but I’m holding off on buying in fully for this year’s draft.
4. The shiny new thing is always the most enticing to go after, but there is always a ton of value in older prospects. Based on their previous college seasons, which returning player are you most excited to watch and has the best NBA potential?
Rucker: Let’s have some fun here. I think that North Carolina landed an absolute stud in the transfer portal with the addition of Henri Veesaar. The former Arizona Wildcats big man stepped up last year when Arizona lost Motiejus Krivas to injury. Veesaar plays with his hair on fire. He’s active around the basket when battling on the boards, and he can step out and offer some upside as a pick-and-pop weapon. There’s also some fascinating playmaking upside with his game that cannot be slept on. The more you watch Henri, the more you find yourself checking the boxes of a potential NBA rotation big who could carve out a role for a long time. If Henri can hold his own defensively when it comes to going up against stronger bigs, he should become a popular name.
Maxwell: So I think Ryan Conwell is the best returning prospect, but the one I’m most excited to see is actually another No Stone Unturned prospect in Darrion Williams. He clearly has an NBA-level brain. He processes the game exceptionally well. The question is just whether he can find a way to get around his lack of run-jump athleticism. Can he become a high-level shooter? Can he play facing up more consistently and go back-to-the-basket less often? If so, there’s a way for him to climb into first round discussions. If not, he’ll be a tricky evaluation come draft night.
Metcalf: Isaiah Evans is going to shock some people this year. Last year, he was just a microwave scorer who was putting up a shot the second he touched the ball. This year, he’ll probably still have a very green light, but we’re already seeing some more nuance and patience with his off-ball scoring. He also has a lot more defensive upside than most people give him credit for. Will he ever pass? Doubtful. Does it bother me? Not really.
Stephen: Do I love me some Ryan Conwell? You better believe it. These sorts of switchblade guards (Hello again, Chuck) are becoming a sort of Kryptonite for me. Conwell may be the most slept-on shooting prospect in this class. At Xavier last year, he shot over 41% from deep on over 12 attempts per 100 possessions. On top of that, Ryan is listed at 6’4” and 215 pounds. That is the sort of frame that should translate well to the NBA. Conwell is also a very competent and capable defender. Playing on a Louisville team that will bring in a ton of eyes, don’t be surprised if you see his name work up boards throughout the season.
Jacob: Finally! A non-Blue Devil! The backcourt may be loaded, but man, Adrian Wooley is awesome. He’s a versatile combo-guard that gets paint touches, scores on multiple levels, and creates off the live dribble. There is a saviness to his game that’s appealing to the eye. The pull-up game is clean, he knows when to attack closeouts, and counters well at the rim. At Kennesaw State, he embraced every matchup and carried a heavy offensive load with little talent around him. The high usage contributed to some decision-making errors that’ll hopefully sharpen up in a more limited role.
Rowan: As part of a great recruiting class around Cooper Flagg, Duke’s Isaiah Evans didn’t have the season he could’ve had if he’d gone to a college where he was a guy from day one. Instead, Evans returned to the Blue Devils, where he could be a sophomore sensation for another contending team. There are few scorers in the country, much less the ACC, that have the same top-end potential as Evans, who is in line to play a perfect Robin to Cam Boozer’s Batman for Duke this season.
Nathan: When Maxwell Baumbach and I came together for a preseason pod on what we’re looking for in guard prospects this upcoming cycle, we discussed one of his favorites in Louisville transfer Adrian Wooley, and I haven’t stopped thinking about his Kennesaw State tape all summer. What if he’s able to translate up and be the exact same type of dynamic offensive threat in the ACC? There’s a chance he asserts himself and plays as many minutes as Mikel Brown and Ryan Conwell if everything breaks right for him. He creates paint touches at will, has soft touch in the lane, and can really hit pull-up jumpers. Defensively, he’s going to be challenged for sure. But how many guards have the type of offensive upside like Wooley does? I’m not sure where he’s going to land for me on a big board, but I can tell you I’m thoroughly intrigued to watch him grow and improve this season.
Nick: Isaiah Evans has to be the answer for me here. I thought that he showed enough last year as a truly elite and incredibly confident shooter to earn a spot in that draft. With him returning this year and probably stepping into a more significant role, he could solidify his spot near the top of the draft pretty quickly.
5. Whether it’s Anthony Edwards dropping 37 points against Michigan State, or Austin Rivers ripping the heart out of UNC fans, or De’Aaron Fox vs. Lonzo Ball, fans are provided with mesmerizing matchups and performances every season. Which matchup, whether team vs. team, player vs. player, or player vs. team, are you most looking forward to watching?
Rucker: Duke and Kansas. November 18th. Battle for the top spot. Check ball.
Maxwell: Both Duke vs. Louisville games (1/6/25 and 1/26/26). The Boozer Twins, Dame Sarr, Isaiah Evans, Nikolas Khamenia, Patrick Ngongba, Adrian Wooley, Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, Kasean Pryor, Aly Khalifa, Isaac McKneely…that’s just an absurd level of talent on one court.
Metcalf: Let’s go with Duke at Louisville on 1/6. There’ll be a ton of NBA talent and some clashing styles in terms of roster strengths. Should be a fun one.
Stephen: I’m looking forward to Duke vs. Florida on December 2nd. Just forget the point that these two teams are teeming with NBA talent. I think this matchup will serve as a significant measuring stick to Cam Boozer’s draft stock. The Gators have a slew of big men they can throw in front of Boozer in Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu, and Micah Handlogten. All of those players present their own unique challenges for Boozer to solve on both ends of the floor, and he will have to face at least one of them every minute he’s on the floor. This fascinates me.
Corey: Let’s keep the main thing the main thing—it’s ALWAYS Duke vs. North Carolina. Give me Caleb Wilson lining up across from Cam Boozer, a battle of two potential top-five picks. However, as many of my colleagues have noted, that Duke vs. Kansas matchup could be an all-timer, and even better, I’ll be in attendance with Nathan to watch the battle for #1.
Jacob: I unfortunately can’t say any Syracuse matchup, so I’ll go with what everyone’s thinking in Duke-Kansas on November 18th. Cam Boozer and Darryn Peterson are 1a and 1b for me, and probably will alternate at the top for the coming months. There are a lot of high upside prospects in this match, starting and coming off the bench. The last time these two squared off was last season, ending in an overtime thriller with Kansas as victorious.
Rowan: Sometimes the most obvious matchup is the best one. That’s true for November 18th’s game between Duke and Kansas, which could feature the top two drafted prospects in the 2026 class. Both Cam Boozer and Darryn Peterson could get drafted first due to their prodigious talents, but both Jon Scheyer and Bill Self have rosters that could feature multiple other players drafted in the first round. You really can’t get much better than this when it comes to a marquee draft prospect clash.
Nathan: Duke vs. Kansas, and it’s not even close for me. Darryn Peterson is right there for me as the second-best prospect preseason behind Cameron Boozer. Those two are going to battle, and I’ll be watching to see who does the most to put their team in position to win, not just what the individual box scores end up being.
Nick: Duke/Kansas is the game of the year for me, so it’s a pretty clear choice for me here.