The ACC ranked fifth in NCAA Tournament bids this postseason but led all conferences with four teams in the Sweet 16, marking the fifth consecutive Tournament where the league led or shared the lead in regional semifinal berths. The ACC is set for another strong postseason in 2024-25, bolstered by top transfer portal talent, which has placed multiple teams in the preseason top 25 rankings.
This offseason, the ACC attracted 10 of the top 100 transfer portal prospects, and we’re spotlighting all 10 in this article. Duke, the only major college basketball team not to take a transfer last offseason, leads the ACC with three top 100 transfers.
NC State and Louisville join Duke with top 25 portal classes, while Syracuse, SMU, and Miami also assembled strong classes, each securing three four-star prospects. North Carolina has landed just one prospect so far, but he is among the highest-rated commits in the conference.
Here are the top 10 transfers joining the ACC for the 2024-25 college basketball season, ranked:
10. Mason Gillis, SF, Duke
– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 95 OVR | No. 20 SF
– Gillis, a five-year college veteran from Purdue, joins Duke to add experience. He averaged 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game last season. While not a primary scorer, he is versatile on defense and shot 46.8% from three-point range.
9. Lynn Kidd, C, Miami
– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 85 OVR | No. 16 C
– Kidd transfers within the ACC, moving from Virginia Tech to Miami. He had a breakout season, averaging 13.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game, shooting 66.8% from the field, which was the highest in the ACC and fourth nationally.
8. Omaha Biliew, PF, Wake Forest
– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 82 OVR | No. 11 PF
– Former McDonald’s All-American Biliew joins Wake Forest after a challenging freshman year at Iowa State. Known for his defensive skills, Biliew averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in limited minutes but is expected to excel defensively in the ACC.
7. Terrence Edwards Jr., CG, Louisville
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– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 81 OVR | No. 5 CG
– Edwards, last season’s Sun Belt Player of the Year, averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He brings significant scoring ability to Louisville after leading James Madison to the NCAA Tournament.
6. TJ Power, PF, Virginia
– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 76 OVR | No. 10 PF
– Power transfers from Duke to Virginia, seeking more playing time. He averaged 2.1 points and 0.7 rebounds in limited minutes but offers shooting potential, hitting 35.7% from three-point range. He is a candidate for ACC Most Improved Player.
5. Maliq Brown, PF, Duke
– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 70 OVR | No. 9 PF
– Brown, expected to start for Duke, averaged 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game last season. He shot 69.8% from the field and led the ACC in steals, earning All-Defensive Team honors.
4. Sion James, SG, Duke
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– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 65 OVR | No. 11 SG
– James joins Duke to fill the gap left by Jeremy Roach. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last season. His defense will be crucial for the Blue Devils.
3. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield, C, NC State
, averaged 12.6 points and 8.4 rebounds on 56.7% shooting last season. His improved shooting and size will be key for NC State.
2. Javian McCollum, CG, Georgia Tech
– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 45 OVR | No. 4 CG
– McCollum chose Georgia Tech over several major programs. He averaged 13.3 points, 3.4 assists, and 2.6 rebounds per game last season and will be a central part of the Yellow Jackets’ backcourt.
1. Cade Tyson, SF, North Carolina
– Transfer Portal Rank: No. 37 OVR | No. 9 SF
– Tyson, joining UNC, averaged 16.2 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.3% from the field and 46.5% from three-point range last season. His height and shooting ability make him a standout addition to the Tar Heels.