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A Gym Rat's Notebook: A Look Ahead at the ACC, Part 1
by Elijah Kyle, 6/7/05

Click here for Part 2

With the ACC adding Boston College next year, thus going to twelve teams for the 2005-06 men's basketball season, it might be an opportune time to look at the conference and how it shapes up next year after the graduations, additions, defections and early NBA draft entries.

With the conference capping the first post-expansion season of play with a National Champion crowned just down the road from Durham in Chapel Hill, the early look on a Tar Heel repeat is problematic at best. The Heels suffered significant losses to the NBA with the early entry filings of several players, and assuming everyone moves on to the dollars that the NBA offers, North Carolina will have to replace a large portion of the team that was so successful with another group of very talented players, albeit much less experienced.

That will start a wild fray to see who emerges as the top dog next year, and we will look at the personnel of each program over the next two columns, starting this week with a look at the non-Tobacco road and Virginia teams: new-entrant Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Miami.



BOSTON COLLEGE (13-3, 25-5) Tie for 1
st in Big East

Losses:

  • C Nate Doornekamp (5.3 pts,4.8 reb)
  • G Jermaine Watson (9.6 pts,3.3 reb)

Returnees:

  • 6-0 Jr G Steve Hailey (3.4 pts, 1.9 reb)
  • 6-4 Sr G Louis Hinnant (5.3 pts, 2.3 reb)
  • 6-5 Jr G Sean Marshall (11.1 pts, 2.7 reb)
  • 6-6 So F Gordan Watt (1.3 pts, 0.8 reb)
  • 6-7 Jr F Jared Dudley (16.5 pts, 7.5 reb)
  • 6-7 So F Akida McClain (3.9 pts, 2.6 reb)
  • 6-7 Sr F Craig Smith (18 pts, 8.5 reb)
  • 6-10 So C John Oates (0.8 pts, 1.2 reb)
  • 6-10 So F/C Sean Williams (4.1 pts, 3.5 reb)

Recruits:

  • Tyrese Rice ( #127 PrepStars) 5-11 PG/WG, Chesterfield (VA) L.C. Bird
  • Marquez Haynes ( #155 PrepStars) 6-2 PG/WG, Irving (TX)
  • Evan Niesler ( #243 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Raleigh (NC) Word of God
  • Tyrelle Blair (Loyola (Chi) transfer) 6-11 C, eligible in 2006-07 (5.9 pts,5.4 reb)

The Eagles were one of the surprise teams in the nation last season and return the bulk of the team that compiled 25 wins. Sophomore frontcourt players Sean Williams and Akida McClain have some off-court issues hanging over them, which make their likelihood of returning less than certain. Al Skinner has shown a propensity to unearth sleepers on the recruiting trail, and both Niesler and Marquez Haynes come in without a lot of national notoriety.



CLEMSON (5-11, 16-16) 9th

Losses:

  • C Sharrod Ford (14.9 pts, 8.2 reb)
  • F Olu Babalola (8.8 pts, 3.7 reb)
  • G Jimmy Hudson (announced transfer plans, 1.0 pt, 0.4 reb)

Returnees:

  • 6-0 Jr PG Vern Hamilton (6.8 pts, 2.6 reb)
  • 6-0 r-Fr PG Troy Mathis
  • 6-3 So G Cliff Hammonds (10.6 pts, 3.6 reb)
  • 6-2 Sr G Shawan Robinson (10.8 pts, 2.9 reb)
  • 6-5 So F Sam Perry (4.0 pts, 2.8 reb)
  • 6-6 So F Cheyenne Moore (6.6 pts, 2.5 reb)
  • 6-9 Sr F/C Akin Akingbala (5.8 pts, 4.1 reb)
  • 6-9 So F James Mays (4.3 pts, 3.4 reb)
  • 6-10 Sr C Steve Allen (1.0 pts, 1.1 reb)

Recruits:

  • K.C. Rivers (# 70 PrepStars) 6-4 G, Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
  • Julius Powell (# 113 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Newton (NC) Newton-Conover
  • Raymond Sykes ( # 239 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Jacksonville (FL) Jackson

The Tigers suffered a huge hit with the departure of leading scorer Sharrod Ford, but the return of 4 sophomores, all of whom garnered significant time, will ease the transition for head coach Oliver Purnell. Powell and Rivers, if healthy, will have an opportunity to push for early playing time, while Sykes is a run/jump athlete, a good fit in the system that Purnell likes to utilize.



FLORIDA STATE
(4-12, 12-19) Tie for 10th

Losses:

  • So G Von Wafer (12.5 pts)-NBA early entry
  • F Anthony Richardson (6.4 pts, 3.5 reb)
  • F Adam Waleskowski (8.4 pts,4.4 reb)

Returnees:

  • 5-11 Sr PG Todd Galloway (6.1 pts, 2 reb)
  • 6-1 So G Isaiah Swann (5.2 pts, 1.9 reb)
  • 6-2 So G Ralph Mims (2.8 pts, 1.2 reb)
  • 6-3 So G Jason Rich (5.4 pts, 2 reb)
  • 6-6 Sr F Antonio Griffin (3.1 pts, 0.8 reb)
  • 6-6 Sr F Andrew Wilson (3.5 pts, 2.3 reb)
  • 6-7 Jr F Al Thornton (9.1 pts, 4.4 reb)
  • 6-10 Sr F Diego Romero (3.8 pts, 2.5 reb)
  • 6-10 Jr F/C Alexander Johnson (6.8 pts, 4.3 reb)

Recruits:

  • Uche Echefu ( #46 PrepStars) 6-7 PF, Rockville (MD) Montrose Christian
  • Casaan Breeden ( #114 PrepStars) 6-7 SF, Bennettsville (SC) Marlboro County
  • Ryan Reid ( #156 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Ft. Lauderdale (FL) Anderson
  • Jerel Allen ( JC All-American) 6-4 G, Flint (MI) Mott CC

The ‘Noles struggled last year in the conference and lost their only double figure scorer when volatile 6-5 sophomore Von Wafer entered his name in the NBA draft. Leonard Hamilton grabbed two important spring additions when he signed 6-8 PF Uche Echefu, along with 6-4 junior college guard Jerel Allen. Talent doesn’t appear to be the issue in Tallahassee, but rather finding the correct mixture of personalities.



GEORGIA TECH (8-8, 20-12) Tie for 4th

Losses:

  • Jr PG Jarrett Jack (15.5 pts,4.8 reb,4.6 asst)-NBA early entry
  • G Will Bynum (12.5 pts)
  • G B.J. Elder (12.6 pts)
  • C Luke Schenscher (10.1,7.3 reb)
  • F Isma’il Muhammad (8.4 pts, 5.0 reb)
  • F Anthony McHenry (3.8 pts, 3.3 reb)
  • 6-1 Fr G Zam Fredrick (announced transfer plans)

Returnees:

  • 6-9 So C Ra’Sean Dickey (5.1 pts, 3.2 reb)
  • 6-4 Jr G Mario West (2.0 pts, 2.6 reb)
  • 6-6 So G/F Anthony Morrow (5.7 pts, 1.9 reb)
  • 6-7 So F Jeremis Smith (2.9 pts, 4.4 reb)
  • 6-9 Sr F/C Theodis Tarver (1.2 pts, 1.7 reb)

Recruits:

  • Lewis Clinch ( #41 PrepStars) 6-3 G, Cordele (GA) Crisp County
  • Alade Aminu ( #57 PrepStars) 6-9 C/F, Stone Mountain (GA) Stephenson
  • D’Andre Bell ( #104 PrepStars) 6-5 F/G, Pacific Palisades (CA) Palisades
  • Austin Jackson ( #116 PrepStars) 6-1 PG/WG Denton (TX) Ryan

The Yellow Jackets suffered massive losses in their program and will have only 5 returning scholarship players, as things now stand. The five leading scorers from last year left the program, four of those being the only double figure scorers on the team during the 2004-05 season. The recruiting class coming in however is excellent and they will have to be ready to play early. The ‘Jackets are still scouring for additional spring additions and will probably continue that until late summer.



MARYLAND (7-9,19-13) Tie for 6th

Losses:

  • F Mike Grinnen (0.7 pts,1.1 reb),
  • Jr PG John Gilchrist (13.9 pts,5.1 reb,5.4 asts)-NBA early entry

Returnees:

  • 6-4 So G Sterling Ledbetter (3.4 pts, 2.2 reb)
  • 6-5 Sr G Chris McCray (14.1 pts, 4.3 reb)
  • 6-5 Jr G Mike Jones (7.2 pts, 2.6 reb)
  • 6-5 Jr G/F D.J. Strawberry (7.1 pts, 1.6 reb)
  • 6-8 Sr F Nik Canner-Medley (16.0 pts, 6.2 reb)
  • 6-8 Sr F Travis Garrison (10.1 pts, 6.5 reb)
  • 6-8 So F James Gist (6.2 pts, 3.9 reb)
  • 6-9 Jr F Ekene Ibekwe (8.4 pts, 6.3 reb)
  • 6-11Jr C Wil Bowers (2.8 pts, 2.6 reb)

Recruits:

  • Shane Clark ( #91 PrepStars) 6-7 SF, Chatham (VA) Hargrave Military
  • Dave Neal ( #182 PrepStars) 6-6 PF, Arlington (VA) Bishop O’Connell
  • Parrish Brown 6-1 PG/WG, Chicago (IL) Kennedy King CC (Juco)

The Terrapins might lose point guard John Gilchrist, who had some run-ins with head coach Gary Williams this past season. Brown is a junior college guard capable of playing both backcourt positions and will add much-needed depth with the expected Gilchrist departure. A healthy D.J. Strawberry will be a most welcome development and incoming freshman Shane Clark will push for playing time.



MIAMI (7-9,16-13) Tie for 6th

Losses:

  • F Will Frisby (8.7 pts,6.4 reb)
  • G Brandon Okpalobi (0.5 pts,0.8 reb)
  • G Antoine Mayhand (0.8 pts, 0.5 reb) transferring

Returnees:

  • 6-2 Jr G Anthony Harris (12.4 pts, 2.5 reb)
  • 6-2 Sr G Robert Hite (17.3 pts, 5.0 reb)
  • 6-2 Jr G Guillermo Diaz (18.6 pts, 4.3 reb)
  • 6-4 Sr G/F Eric Wilkins (1.5 pts, 1.1 reb)
  • 6-7 So F Raymond Hicks (1.7 pts, 1.1 reb)
  • 6-9 Jr F/C Anthony King (6.3 pts, 8.0 reb)
  • 6-9 Sr C Gary Hamilton (4.1 pts, 6.3 reb)
  • 6-11 Sr C Glenn Batemon (0.5 pts, 0.8 reb)

Recruits:

  • Adrian Thomas ( #68 PrepStars) 6-7 PF/SF, Pembroke Pines (FL) Flanagan
  • Denis Clemente ( #72 PrepStars) 6-0 WG/PG, Miami (FL) Calusa
  • Brian Asbury ( #80 PrepStars) 6-6 SF/WG, Miami (FL) South
  • Jimmy Graham ( #136 PrepStars) 6-8 PF, Goldsboro (NC) Charis Prep

Frank Haith’s Hurricane program loses only underrated frontcourt player Will Frisby, while bringing in significant offensive firepower. Clemente is a fine scorer capable of playing both backcourt positions. Asbury and Thomas are both versatile players with the ability to make some early noise. Graham originally re-classified as a junior, then decided to graduate with the 2005 class, thus giving Haith a strong, athletic frontcourt player who can do many of the same things that Frisby provided.

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