PBC 2019-20 Conference Prospect Preview: Atlantic Coast Conference

11/4/2019

The 2019-20 college hoops season kicks off tomorrow, and the ACC has taken the unique position of commencing conference play at the onset of the season rather than following the traditional scheduling layout following the holidays. As such, the PBC Scouting Team has assembled a list of ACC prospects to watch this season with some supplemental scouting analysis on a handful of intriguing prospects ranked outside of the consensus top 45.

1st Round

Early 2nd Round

Patrick Williams | Florida State
Xavier Johnson | Pittsburgh

Mid-to-Late 2nd Round

Samuell Williamson
Wing | 6’7” | 200 lbs. | Freshman | Louisville

The McDonald’s All-American is a big, fluid athlete who can play above the rim and has a great combination of power and touch. Williamson is comfortable with the ball in his hands and can score from anywhere on the floor, including a strong mid-range jumper. Whether Chris Mack’s system has him primarily on or off ball is yet to be seen, but it will impact his draft stock. If he has the ball in his hands a lot and shoots the three efficiently, we may see Williamson be the next Louisville one-and-done star and potentially rise into the late 1st Round discussion.

Mamadi Diakite
Big | 6’9” | 214 lbs. | Senior | Virginia

Diakite is a fantastic athlete at his size and boasts a +6” wingspan. He uses this length and leaping ability extremely well around the rim on both ends of the floor. On defense he plays with a vibe that some scouts will love: it's as if he's previously told his teammates, "If your man gets by you, I'll meet him at the rim.” He’s a winner with a motor that doesn't quit and provided a spark to the eventual NCAA champions when given more of an opportunity during the tail end of the season. While he isn't flashy on the offensive end, he projects as an excellent role player with functional defensive strengths. Diakite was a 2019 NBA Draft early entrant that participated in the G League Elite Camp and ultimately decided to return for his senior season. He currently slots as a borderline 2nd Round prospect, but don't be surprised if team with multiple draft picks takes a shot on him to add front-court depth.

Devin Vassell
Wing | 6’6” | 180 lbs. | Sophomore | Florida State

Having only played 10.7 MPG as a freshman, Vassell enters year two as one of the most intriguing under-the-radar prospects in the country. As a long, wiry swingman, he’s a leaper whose athleticism shines in everything he does. Vassell's primary offensive strength is his three-point shooting. In limited minutes last year he sunk 26-of-62 from deep. His catch-and-shoot mechanics and skill set are among the best in the conference with a really fast, elevated release along with tremendous one-hop balance. What stands out defensively is his ability to elevate and contest jump shots. He attacks really hard, yet under control when closing out on shooters, and his wingspan enables him to tangibly impact opponents’ jumpers. With efficient scoring on higher volume/opportunity in 2019, he projects as a potential 3-and-D guy at the next level.

Two-Ways, Exhibit 10’s, and Early Entrant Upside

Armando Bacot
Big | 6’10” | 240 lbs. | Freshman | North Carolina

The five-star center out of IMG Academy will be suiting up for the Tar Heels in 2019. Bacot has a huge frame for his age and, unsurprisingly, he physically dominated much of his high school competition while leading IMG to the 2019 Prep National Championship. Bacot really excels around the rim on both ends of the floor. On offense he moves well with good feet, and has displayed the ability to pass in tight spaces. He’s a vicious rebounder as well, using his strong lower body to dislodge opponents. As a freshman, I hope to see him develop as a shot blocker and lob target because he’s more mobile than he often gets credit for. He’s likely a two-year player at UNC, but If he can get his lower body in peak condition and be a dominant force down low, it’s not impossible that he tests the waters and remains in the 2020 Draft if he receives positive feedback.

Javin DeLaurier
Big | 6’9” | 231 lbs. | Senior | Duke

DeLaurier is an active, athletic big man with a motor that doesn’t stop. He has good feet and mobility at his size, and plays with high activity on the defensive end of the floor. His offensive production comes solely around the basket, where he ranked 92nd percentile in 2018 at 1.413 points-per-possession. While he will need to stretch his offensive repertoire by adding some sort of jump shot to his game, he excels as a dump-off and lob target due to verticality and anticipation. Whether he projects as a 4 or 5 at the next level is yet to be seen, but with his size, quickness, and motor, the Charlottesville, VA native is certainly one to watch in 2019.

Markell Johnson
Lead Guard | 6’1” | 175 lbs. | Senior | North Carolina State

Johnson may not be a household name, but ultra-athletic guard has an opportunity to make a big splash in 2019. He is incredibly versatile on the offensive end, scoring effectively at all three levels. His shooting particularly stands out, having knocked down 42% of his threes as a junior, and finished in the 95th percentile as a catch-and-shoot jump shooter at 1.382 points-per-possession. Johnson is as quick and crafty as they come; he’s bouncy and creates space really well against taller defenders. Last season he finished sixth in assists in the ACC and, if he can maintain the assist and shooting numbers as a senior while showing growth throughout the rest of his game, he will draw plenty of scouts down to Raleigh.

Cassius Stanley
Wing | 6’5” | 180 lbs. | Freshman | Duke

Overshadowed by the rest of the Duke recruiting class, Stanley has an opportunity to surprise people and become an immediate impact player. He’s already known for elite bounce as he broke the Duke max vertical record by clearing 46 inches shortly after his arrival on campus. With this athleticism and size on the wing, he can elevate above defenders with ease at the rim. In exhibition games this fall he’s already given the crowds multiple highlight-reel dunks. He’s solid and anticipates well on the defensive end, so the big thing to watch in 2019 is his shooting. If he’s consistent, efficient, and proves to be a reliable scorer, we very well could see him test the Draft waters next summer.

The ACC is historically one of the strongest conferences from both a college basketball and NBA prospect perspective - don't be surprised to see numerous of these prospects climb draft boards, or for further prospects to emerge onto NBA Draft radars.

Derek and his wife Katherine currently reside in Oklahoma City. Derek works as an Account Manager in the OKC Thunder retention department, managing 400+ season ticket clients. Derek entered the world of talent evaluation in 2017, has scouted multiple Summer Leagues & Portsmouth Invitationals, hand has written for FanSided & NetScouts Basketball Derek also runs his own NBA Draft website, The Blueprint NBA. Originally from Cleveland, TN, Derek Graduated from Lee University with a degree in Business Administration. Derek and Katherine give all glory to God and are grateful to everyone who has helped them along the way.
Follow Derek on Twitter @dmurrayNBA.

Jon Chepkevich serves as the Director of Scouting for the Professional Basketball Combine. In his role at Stats Perform, Jon reviews the financial terms/profitability of customer contracts, develops NBA minutes projections, and works with the basketball data group to enhance the Stats Perform NBA Draft model. When he isn't in the office, Jon enjoys Chicago's competitive pick-up hoops scene, dissecting NBA Draft prospects as a credentialed scout, watching Notre Dame football, and spending time with his wife, Andrea, and dog, Ruthie.
Follow Jon on Twitter @JonChep.

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