ACC
1 â Wake Forest. It was the year that Skip Prosser's program took the next step. Behind the lead of the program's best player since Tim Duncan, the Demon Deacons gained the national spotlight and won't look back anytime soon. Chris Paul is one of those special players that only come along every couple of years. He can score at will, but prefers get everybody involved and then strike the dagger himself. People compare him to everybody from Isaiah Thomas to TJ Ford, but it's very clear that someday people will be comparing young guards to Chris Paul. If Paul wasn't around, it's pretty clear that Justin Gray or Taron Downey would be considered amongst the top floor generals in the nation. Gray is a pure scorer who has some pretty incredible stretches from the outside, while Downey adds a steady hand and more pure playmaking skill. If Prosser wants a bit more size in the backcourt, he can turn to physical wing Trent Strickland. Jamal Levy is a truly unique player in that he can do pretty much everything. He has great size for a wing, and great skill for a post. He can defend anybody, and is the perfect small forward to team with Wake's exceptional guards. Down low, there isn't much of a dropoff. Eric Williams has shown promise ever since appearing in the McDonald's game three years ago, and he is slowly starting deliver on it. Williams is your prototypical college banger, and if he can continue to work on staying out of foul trouble, he will end his career as one of the nation's best big men. Next to Williams is Vytas Danelius, who regressed a bit last season due to some injuries. Danelius is a banger who always manages to make a big play. Off the bench, Prosser can go with 6-11 C Kyle Visser, or PF Chris Ellis. This team loves to run, and will more often then not simply tire people out. Playing at that kind of pace, defense sometimes becomes an issue. This team can also turn the ball over at alarming rate. But this is nitpicking. It's hard to argue why this team shouldn't be #1 in the country at this point.
Ranking: Top 5
NBA Prospects: Paul is a lottery pick whenever he chooses to come out. Williams and Danelius will both get looks from scouts. Gray and Levy probably get their chance as well.
2 â North Carolina. It hasn't been a smooth transition for Roy Williams, but it's strange to think that anybody thought it would be. Last season the Tar Heels showed a penchant for looking like the best team in the nation and losing to Clemson in the same week. It isn't an issue of talent. UNC has more than anybody. It was probably more about a lack of experience and learning a new system. It's no guarantee that UNC comes out and solves whatever put them in the middle of the pack in this conference last season â they were more talented then everybody else last season as well. However, you can't look at the Tar Heels this season and not be impressed. Ray Felton is the team's engine. He is content to be the playmaker, pushing the tempo and taking people off the dribble. But every now and then, he'll put into overdrive, and win games by himself. His backcourt partner, Rashad McCants won a few games by himself last year as well. McCants has somewhat of a volatile personality, but there's no denying that he might be the best pure scorer in the country. The backcourt is deep, with seniors Melvin Scott and Jackie Manuel back. Scott is the shooter, Manuel is the lock-down defender. Freshman Quentin Thomas is a welcome addition for Felton, as the never-stops PG will be able to take a breather every now and again. The frontcourt has everybody back as well, led by PF Sean May. May came back for his sophomore season slimmed down a bit, and was dominant at times. May did struggle at times, but that may have been because he was forced to do it all himself. Combo F David Noel and PF Jawad Williams both struggled with nagging injuries last season, and May simply didn't have the stamina to excel for 40 minutes per game. This season, help comes from touted freshman Marvin Williams, a lanky combo type who many believe is the top incoming freshman in the country. This team has had talent the past two seasons, but hasn't been able to pull it together when it counts. However, looking at all this talent, it's hard not to put the Tar Heels near the top of the conference.
Ranking: Top 5
Draft Prospects: Felton, May, and McCants all have issues to resolve before they make it in the NBA, but all three will have a shot at the first round eventually. Jawad Williams will get a shot, and it was said that Marvin Williams could have gone lotto last season.