With the 2014-15 ACC season just about to tip off, our esteemed panel of micrositers has come together to release our preseason individual superlatives. It was a close race for most of these positions, but those who were close to making the cut will earn honorable mention below. Feel free to comment on where we went horribly awry or how accurately you think we’ve nailed it.
Player of the Year: Marcus Paige, PG, North Carolina. It might be a good thing if Paige’s scoring numbers drop this year, as that would probably mean more offensive production from his peers. North Carolina has a promising group of freshmen in the backcourt and on the wing, but a more mature and seasoned frontcourt could help Paige excel as the team’s primary ball-handler. Jahlil Okafor and Montrezl Harrell are two others who could easily claim this award by season’s end.
Freshman of the Year: Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke. We didn’t stray far from public opinion on this one. Okafor gives Duke its most formidable post player in many years, and his exhibition performances have done little to dampen the enthusiasm for his talent in Durham. Justin Jackson (North Carolina), Shaqquan Aaron (Louisville) and Kaleb Joseph (Syracuse) are dark horse candidates worth keeping an eye on.
Coach of the Year: Leonard Hamilton, Florida State. Louisville’s Rick Pitino, Virginia’s Tony Bennett and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski were the others we considered, but the potential for Florida State to make some noise in the ACC race this year means Hamilton is the preseason choice. Florida State will continue to play its trademark smothering defense, but we think that the offense will be vastly improved. It says here that the Seminoles will improve on their 9-9 ACC record and return to the Big Dance after an NIT semifinals appearance a year ago.
Preseason All-ACC Team
- Marcus Paige, PG, North Carolina: Paige will shift back to his preferred position with more scorers on the wing available this season. Roy Williams would like to see Paige put more complete games together as opposed to reverting to his “Second Half Paige” moniker on a regular basis.
- Aaron Thomas, SG, Florida State: Thomas is coming off of a breakout year, averaging 14.5 PPG and upping that average to 18.0 PPG in four NIT games. Thomas is equally adept on the defensive end (a must for Leonard Hamilton’s Seminoles), making him a clear first team selection.
- Malcolm Brogdon, SG, Virginia: Brogdon unassumingly took over as Virginia’s primary offensive threat last year, with Joe Harris gladly handing over the mantle to the sophomore. Brogdon will shine even more this year as a highly visible leader for the reigning ACC champions.
- Jahlil Okafor, C, Duke: The preseason accolades for Okafor have rolled in, including the media’s projection for him as Freshman of the Year and the Associated Press Player of the Year. According to Coach K, Okafor will be Duke’s focal point this year, and he could be the face of a Final Four team before landing as the number one pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
- Montrezl Harrell, F, Louisville: Harrell’s decision to forgo the NBA Draft (where he would have likely been a lottery selection) makes coach Rick Pitino’s Cardinals a force in their first year in the ACC. Harrell looks to improve on stalwart averages of 14 points and eight boards per game from a year ago.
Others receiving votes: Olivier Hanlan, Boston College; Justin Jackson, North Carolina