Rob Cloughs 1993-94 ACC preseason pics. > Here's my look at the ACC for the 93-94 season. In general, this will be the >year of UNC and Everybody Else. > > The Picks: POY: Grant Hill, Duke ROY: Keith Booth, Maryland > > 1st Team All-ACC: 3rd Team All-ACC >UNC 14-2 F Grant Hill, Duke F Devin Gray, Clemson >Virginia 11-5 F James Forrest, Tech F Martice Moore, Tech >Duke 10-6 C Eric Montross, UNC C Cherokee Parks, Duke >Georgia Tech 9-7 G Randolph Childress, Wake G Cory Alexander, UVa >Florida State 8-8 G Derrick Phelps, UNC G Don Williams, UNC >Clemson 7-9 >Maryland 6-10 2nd Team All-ACC: >Wake Forest 5-11 F Junior Burrough, UVa >NC State 2-14 F Bob Sura, FSU > C Sharone Wright, Clemson > G Charlie Ward, FSU > G Travis Best, Tech > > What follows are the team-by-team breakdowns and rosters. A * preeeding >a player's name indicates that he was a regular starter last year. A (r) >indicates that the player redshirted for a year. > >**Clemson**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > >*Andre Bovain, G, Sr. Chris Whitney, G Merl Code, 6-2 G, Fr. > Wayne Buckingham, F, Sr. Corey Wallace, F Rayfield Ragland, 6-6 F Jr >*Jeff Brown, G, Sr. Kevin Hines, F Kyle Freeman, 6-2 PG, Jr. > Andy Kelly, Sr. ?Paul Liney, 6-2, OG, Jr. >*Devin Gray, F, Jr. >*Sharone Wright, C, Jr. > Bruce Martin, G, Jr. > Lou Richie, G, Jr. > Frank Tomera, C, So. > > Strengths: Inside game, rebounding, defense (blocks & steals) > Weaknesses: Scoring, outside shooting > > Overall: This could be a very good year for Clemson. The coaching situation >has stabilized (at least for now--beating FSU may have saved Ellis' job), >no one's transferring out, and the promising young players of the last two >years have matured and are ready to make a move....Point guard is a big >question mark. They recruited JuCo star Kyle Freeman, but if he doesn't work >out then the team will be in the hands of UCLA transfer Lou Richie, who works >best as a backup.... They will certainly miss the outside shooting of Chris >Whitney, as well as his passing. Jeff Brown will have to step up in the >scoring department, and JuCo recruit Rayfield Ragland (who was supposed to be >at Clemson last year but missed on grades) will have to prove he can score in >the ACC as well....Mark it down: Sharone Wright and Devin Gray will be the most >dominant center-power forward combo in the league...The bench won't be bad. >Richie is a good back-up, Brown & Martin can both shoot (Bovain makes a good >defensive stopper off the bench if Brown starts), Buckingham fills up some >space and even Tomera has a future....This team will be in the middle of the >pack, losing a lot on the road but pulling some upsets at home. > > Key Player: Freeman. If he can run the offense and keep the offense open, >Gray and Wright could have monster years. > MVP: Wright. In my opinion, he's the best current ACC big man prospect. >He's been hampered by injury and a chaotic program, but the program may be >stabilizing and I think he will, too. > >**Duke**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > >*Grant Hill, 6-8 F-G, Sr. Bobby Hurley, 6-0, PG Greg Newton, 6-11, F, Fr. >*Tony Lang, 6-8 F, Sr. Thomas Hill, 6-4, OG Joey Beard, 6-10, F, Fr. > Marty Clark, 6-6, F-G, Sr. Carmen Wallace,6-6, F,Fr. >*Cherokee Parks, 6-11, C, Jr. Jeff Capel, 6-4, G, Fr. > Erik Meek, 6-10, C, Jr. > Kenny Blakeney (R), 6-4, G, Jr. > Chris Collins, 6-2, G, So. > Tony Moore, 6-8, F, So > > Strengths: Size, rebounding, bench, shooting, defense, shot-blocking > Weaknesses: Ballhandling, inexperienced perimeter players > > Overall: Duke has the option of starting with a veteran unit (Hill, Parks, >Lang, Clark, Collins) or going with any of the three top frosh....Hill is a >POY candidate, currently resting his foot for the summer. He needs to be as >aggressive as he was in the Cal game all year long...Duke has four players >6-10 or taller, and seven players 6-8 or taller. Most of the big men can >play two or even three positions....Most of the Devils are three point threats, >including all four of the frosh....Lang attributes some of his defensive >problems to his low weight, and plans to bulk up to 230 (from 205) over the >summer....Beard has bulked up to 230, Newton is 225....Point guard is the most >obvious flaw on the team, followed by leadership. PG will be be committee, >with different players playing to their strengths and not exposing their >weaknesses; i.e., don't have Capel bring the ball up, have him penetrate; don't >have Collins penetrate, have him start the fast break, etc....This team has a >lot of potential. If the right rotation is discovered, they could be a force. >Having Grant Hill unleashed is enough of a factor to pencil them in at third >place, with second being realistic. > > Key Player: Blakeney. If he can defend the opposing point guard, handle the >ball a little, and otherwise take some pressure away from Grant Hill, G will >be national POY. > MVP: Hill. It all flows through him. > >**Florida State**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: ** Who's Arriving: > > Chuck Graham(R), G, Sr. Sam Cassell, G James Collins, 6-4, G, Fr. > Andre Reid, C, Sr. Doug Edwards, F Kirk Luchman, 6-9, C, Fr. >*Charlie Ward, G, Sr. Rodney Dobard, F David Grabuloff, 6-7 F, Fr. > Stephen Gruhl, G, Jr. Lorenzo Hands, G Andre Cooper, 6-3, G, Fr. >*Bob Sura, F, Jr. Byron Wells, F > Derrick Carroll, F, So. Ray Donald, G > Mo Robinson, F, So. > Scott Shepherd, G, So. > Jon Kerner, C, So. > (question to FSU fans: Did Andre Reid end up redshirting last year? If so, > then his status would be junior, not senior. I've gotten conflicting > reports on the matter) > > Strengths: Athleticism, scoring, full-court D > Weaknesses: Size, experience, rebounding, possibly depth > > Outlook: FSU will certainly be a perimeter-oriented team, with Graham >returning, Sura on the wing, and star James Collins coming in. Expect a lot >of threes to be shot....Their big men are a question mark. Andre Reid has been >a project that hasn't worked out, and there is speculation that Jon Kerner may >take his spot....Mo Robinson is tough, but limited, and probably not ready to >be an ACC starter. The two frosh, Grabuloff & Luchman, are both rugged, but >slow. Both are also a tad undersized (6-8 & 6-9). The Noles could get abused >in the post by most of the teams in the ACC....Charlie Ward's (and frosh Andre >Cooper's) absence for part of the year could hurt the team, especially since >Scott Shepherd didn't develop as expected. Giving the PG slot to Collins is >risky, considering he's an OG....Graham, Sura and Carroll are all very >versatile. Look for them to be virtually interchangeable....FSU still has a >lot of firepower, but they'll be a lot softer than last year. I expect them >to fall out of the first division this year, but they can still beat any team >in the league. > > Key Player: Reid. If he doesn't slam any doors on his hand and stops playing >like a scared deer, he could keep FSU very competitive. > MVP: Ward. A superhuman leader, the quickest guard in the ACC, and the only >player who mixes both experience and maturity on this team. > >**Georgia Tech**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > > Ivano Newbill, C, Sr. Malcolm Mackey, F Ed Elisma, 6-10 F, Fr. > Fred Vinson(R), G, Sr. Bryan Hill, G > Darryl Barnes, Sr. James Gaddy, G > Rod Balanis, Sr. >*Travis Best, G, Jr. >*James Forrest, F, Jr. > Todd Harlicka, Jr. > Kevin Frevert, Jr. > John Kelly, Jr. >*Martice Moore, F, So. >*Drew Barry, G, So. > Keith Kenney, So. > > Strengths: Shooting, athleticism, powerful four man team. > Weaknesses: Depth, of course. Interior defense. Inconsistency. > > Outlook: Tech is a center away from being a dominant ACC team, and a threat >to UNC. If Newbill steps up even a little, they could be very dangerous.... >The inconsistency that has dogged the team in recent years due to draft >defections may be alleviated somewhat by the maturity of their two stars, >Best & Forrest. Forrest is a POY candidate....If ROY Martice Moore develops >more maturity, as well as fellow impact rook Drew Barry, Tech could have four >guys on the floor who are all serious offensive threats. Tech could score >more points than anyone with this lineup. Of course, it remains to be seen >if they can also play defense with game-to-game intensity....A key bench >player is Fred Vinson. Redshirted last year, he could be a big spark off the >bench with his shot. If he doesn't play up to snuff, Tech is in big trouble >since they don't have any more guards. Their only option would be to move >Moore back to OG, a position in which he floundered....Cremins always gets >the most out of his starters, but this year they don't have any ROY candidates >popping up. Losing Jason Lawson hurt him in a big way, and I think this is >the year that his thin bench finally catches up with him. > > Key Player: Newbill. If he can defend and rebound, this will allow Tech to >bring Elisma along slowly. It would also mean that Forrest and Moore wouldn't >have to play out of position. > MVP: Forrest. He just needs to keep focused--he's a possible ACC POY if he >does. > >**Maryland**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > > Mike Thibeault, G, Sr. Evers Burns, C-F Keith Booth, 6-6, F, Fr. > Wayne Bristol, G, Jr. Chris Kerwin, PF Joe Smith, 6-9, PF, Fr. > John Walsh, F, Jr. Kevin McLinton, G Nick Bosnic, 6-7,SF, Fr. >*Exree Hipp, F, So. Matt Kovarik, 6-4 PG, Fr >*Johnny Rhodes, G, So. > Mo Lucas, PF, So. > Duane Simpkins, PG, So. > Nemanja Petrovic, C, So. > > Strengths: Unbelievable athleticism, trapping defense, potential. > Weaknesses: Youth, youth, youth. Lack of a proven rebounder. Extreme > inconsistency, especially in shooting. Ballhandling. Interior > defense. > > Outlook: Maryland will be one of the most interesting teams in the league >next year. They have no proven upperclassmen, and will be dominated by frosh >and sophomores....They could surprise a lot of teams, or just fall apart under >the withering ACC pressure....One thing we can expect is a lot of inconsis- >tency, a spectacular play followed by an unforced error. However, the era of >Gary Williams' overachievers is ended. He now has some real talent to work >with. The question is whether he can get them to play his trapping defense, >and learn how to take good shots....They have no proven interior players. Joe >Smith promises to be an excellent PF, however, with a rep as a rebounder, >shotblocker and defender....Keith Booth could make Exree Hipp sit soon if his >shot selection is a tad better....Duane Simpkins had his moments, but he has a >long way to go to be a top ACC point guard. This could be the biggest flaw >of the Terps as Best, Phelps, Alexander, etc eat him up....All in all, UM will >probably finish towards the bottom of the ACC again. But they'll be ready to >challenge next year. One more solid recruiting class could vault them into >the ACC's first division. > > Key Player: Simpkins. Without a consistent floor leader, this team will >fall apart. > MVP: Hmm. I'll say Booth. I realize it's dangerous to tab a frosh as a >team's best player, but in this case I think it's true. His versatility and >D give him the nod over Rhodes. > >**North Carolina**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > >*Eric Montross, C, Sr. George Lynch, F Serge Zwikker(R),C,7-3,Fr. > Pat Sullivan, F, Sr. Henrik Rodl, G Jerry Stackhouse,F,6-6,Fr. >*Brian Reese, F, Sr. Scott Cherry, G Jeff McInnis, PG, 6-3, Fr. >*Derrick Phelps, PG, Sr. Travis Stephenson, G Rasheed Wallace,F,6-10,Fr. > Kevin Salvadori, C-F, Sr. Octavius Barnes,G,6-4 Fr. >*Don Williams, OG, Jr. > Dante Calabria, G, So. > Ed Geth, F, So. > Larry Davis, G, So. > > Strengths: Size, strength, depth, maturity, experience, defense > Weaknesses: Streak shooting > > Outlook: An absolutely loaded team. A solid starting five that can dominate >most of the league easily, plus the luxury of developing the startling new >talent at their leisure....This will be a team with very few flaws. About the >only one I can still think of is inconsistent outside shooting. Williams was >terrific in the FF, but can he do it every game? Can Phelps fill it up a bit >more? Can Reese stroke that shot with any regularity? The answer is: probably >enough to win. UNC will not be mistaken for a perimeter-oriented team, but >they'll do just enough to free up the inside. Of course, the arrival of >Stackhouse may change that anyway....Speaking of Stacks, he and the rest of the >UNC rooks will now and forever change the idea that the Heels are slow and >lumbering. McInnis can really penetrate, and that year on the bench will >prepare him well. I think Rasheed Wallace is overrated and a bit of a >headcase. If Dean can't cure him of that, he may have another Cliff Rozier.... >It's a cliche to say that UNC's second team could all be starters at some >schools, but this year it's really true. Salvadori, Zwikker, Calabria, McInnis, >Stackhouse and Wallace could win several lesser conferences, in fact. > > Key Player: Brian Reese. Still hasn't lived up to his potential, but if he >turns those flashes of greatness into consistency, he's all-ACC. > MVP: Derrick Phelps. He makes the Heels go. Smart, tough, and the best >defensive guard in the country. > >**North Carolina State**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > > Migjen Bakali, G, Sr. Kevin Thompson, C-F Ricky Daniels, 6-6 F, Jr > Bryant Feggins, F, Sr. Jamie Knox, F Lewis Sims, 6-8 PF, Jr. > Marc Lewis, F, Sr. Donnie Seale, G Jason Sutton, 6-3 G, Fr. > Mark Davis, G, Jr. Victor Neumann, F Jeremy Hyatt, 6-6 F, Fr > Curtis Marshall, G, Jr. Chuck Kornegay, F >*Lakista McCuller, G, Jr. >*Todd Fuller, C-F, So. >*Marcus Wilson, SF, So. > > Strengths: Perimeter game, the fact that last season is over > Weaknesses: Inside game, chemistry with JuCo players, strength, depth, > defense, ballhandling, leadership > > Outlook: NCSU was terrible last year, and they lost their three best players >from that team (Thompson, Seale and Kornegay)....Having Bakali, Davis and >Feggins healthy will help, but these three were complementary players, not >stars. NCSU has a bunch of players who might help elsewhere, but aren't >talented enough to compete against superior talent in the ACC. They need a >great recruiting class with talented, athletic big men who can intimidate >inside....This is going to be a purely perimeter team. Without quality big >men, they're going to be eaten by the rest of the ACC, who can simply >concentrate on shutting down the perimeter...The bright spots are the two >sophomore forwards, Fuller and Wilson. Fuller is slow and stiff but very >hard-working and tough, and Wilson is skinny but exciting, with a pretty good >shot....The three point shot is NCSU's great ally. With Davis, McCuller, >Marshall, Wilson and Bakali stroking away, this could keep them from getting >blown out of games....It's always tough to predict how well JuCo players >will adjust to the ACC, but NCSU is hoping that Ricky Daniels will be able >to make the transition. He'll be an important perimeter player, with good >offensive skills and the ability to play inside a little. > > Key Player: Feggins. If he can actually play, the presence of a guy who >played well on good teams may boost the confidence of a team that's been >battered. > MVP: I say Wilson. Best athlete on the team. Could be anyone, though. > >**Virginia**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > >*Cornell Parker, G-F, Sr. Ted Jeffries, C Jamal Robinson,SF, 6-6,Fr. >Chris Havlicek, G, Sr. Doug Smith, G Michael Powell, G, 6-3,Fr. >Shawn Wilson, C, Sr. Rashaan Mitchell, G Harold Deane, G, 6-2, Fr. >*Junior Burrough, PF, Jr. Mark Bogosh, 7-0, C, Jr. >*Cory Alexander, PG, Jr. >*Jason Williford, F, Jr. >Bobby Graves, G, Jr. >Yuri Barnes, F, Jr. >Chris Alexander (R), C, So. > > Strengths: Defense, depth, perimeter game, experience, coaching > Weaknesses: Center position, inside height, offense > > Outlook: This could be one of the best teams in the ACC. UVa has depth, >defense and a quality recruiting class....The glaring flaw is at center, where >Jeff Jones was unable to replace untalented but hardworking center Ted >Jeffries. He signed extremely unheralded 7-0 C Mark Bogosh (by gosh!) who >will be there to take up some space against the bigger squads they face, but >won't do much else....UVa features some very talented forwards. Jason >Williford really emerged last year after a mediocre frosh season, as a bruiser >on defense and a scorer. Yuri Barnes is another rugged forward who will see >a lot of time at the C position against teams with weak frontlines. And >Junior Burrough had a disappointing year considering his excellent frosh season, >but he should bounce back. These guys make up for their lack of size with >tenacious play and being active on the boards....The backcourt features the one >true offensive threat, Cory Alexander, who became a much better shooter (with >a much better shot selection) and leader; and Cornell Parker, one of the top >defensive guards in the league. They also feature three well-regarded >perimeter recruits, with Jamal Robinson being a player who can really get >some playing time if he can score in the ACC, considering UVa's constant need >for better offensive production. Deane and Powell will be able to take over >some of the ballhandling chores for Alexander. I've always felt that perimeter >players usually have a smoother transition into the college game than big men, >especially if they have the luxury of being brought in as back-ups. Expect to >see all three rooks get significant minutes, and don't be surprised to see >Robinson on the ACC All-Rookie team....Finally, I feel Jeff Jones is one of the >better young coaches in the game, and he's a big man away from being a true >national power. As it is, he's done very well without one. > > Key Player: Yuri Barnes. If he plays well at the center position, this team >could almost challenge UNC. > MVP: Alexander. Will continue to show his leadership and shooting skills. > >**Wake Forest**: > >**Who's Coming Back: **Who's Leaving: **Who's Arriving: > > Marc Blucas, G, Sr. Rodney Rogers, PF ?Makhtar Ndiaye, 6-10 F >*Charlie Harrison, G, Sr. Derrick Hicks, C Tim Duncan, 6-10 C, Fr. > Stan King, C, Sr. David Rasmussen, G Ricardo Peral, 6-9 C >*Trelonnie Owens, F, Sr. Marc Schoone, C(transfer) > Scooter Banks, F, Jr. Steve Rich, C (transferred mid-year) >*Randolph Childress (R), G, Jr. > Barry Canty, G, So. (may transfer) > Stacey Castle, G, So. > Bobby Fitzgibbons, F, So. > Rusty LaRue, G, So. > > Strengths: Childress, for leadership and offense > Weaknesses: Inside game, ballhandling, depth, offense, inconsistency, too > many question marks > > Outlook: Not much to say about Wake this year, outside of the continued >excellence of the Chill, Randolph Childress. Wake could be the mystery team >of the ACC, considering that they're still waiting to hear from the NCAA >regarding the eligibility of top recruit Makhtar Ndiaye. He could make a big >difference in their season if he plays. He won't be much of an offensive force >at first, but he will shore up the interior defense in a big way....Tree >Owens and Scooter Banks are both decent players who have improved slightly from >year-to-year. But neither is any kind of substitute for the departing Rodney >Rogers, the ACC POY. Even if Ndaiye turns out to be decent, they still have >little depth in the frontcourt. Depending on three frosh frontcourt players, >two of whom who don't have english as a first language and two of whom have >never played ball in the US is not a tenable situation....As for the backcourt, >Childress is the only true star. Harrison is extremely erratic as a ballhandler >and a shooter. The only other true outside threat is Marc Blucas, who had a >few good performances last year and should be a solid sixth man this year, >but all the guards are going to have trouble without Rogers to draw defenders >inside....Wake has enough talent to beat out NCSU, but doesn't have enough >talent to beat out Maryland or enough depth to finish ahead of Clemson. > > Key Player: Ndiaye. If he plays at all, and up to his potential, this will >open things up for the rest of the team and they could vault past the other >ACC pretenders (Clemson, Maryland, NCSU) > MVP: Childress. Any cold streaks for him could spell doom for the team, >though. > Robert Clough, DUMC (though still not speaking for them) >DUKE FOOTBALL '93: Catch the ennui.