Every ACC men's basketball team's most impactful newcomer for 2026-27

The ACC added an intriguing mix of proven mid-major scorers, high-major veterans and highly regarded freshmen. Several of these newcomers could immediately become the difference between an NCAA Tournament team and an also-ran.

Boston College: Money Williams

Williams arrives as one of the most accomplished mid-major transfers in the ACC. He averaged 20.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists at Montana while shooting 49.3% from the field. The two-time All-Big Sky selection was also the 2026 Big Sky Tournament MVP.

Cal: Michael Cooper

Cooper averaged 13.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists at Wright State while shooting 35.6% from three. He earned Horizon League All-Freshman Team honors and was named to the conference tournament team after helping the Raiders win the league championship.

Clemson: Liutauras Lelevicius

The Lithuanian wing averaged 8.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.7 assists at TCU while shooting 38.0% from three and 88.7% from the free-throw line. His shooting efficiency and 6-foot-7 frame give Clemson a versatile perimeter option.

Duke: John Blackwell

Blackwell is one of the nation's best transfers, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists at Wisconsin. He shot 38.9% from three and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors. Duke is adding a proven scorer to a roster that already features several elite young players.

Florida State: Kameron Taylor

Taylor was one of the Big South's top players last season, averaging 18.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists at UNC Asheville. He earned first-team All-Big South honors and gives the Seminoles an experienced scoring wing.

Georgia Tech: Nasir Whitlock

Whitlock is coming off a monster season at Lehigh, averaging 20.5 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 43.3% from three. He earned first-team All-Patriot League and tournament MVP honors. He should immediately become one of the Yellow Jackets' primary offensive weapons.

Louisville: Flory Bidunga

Bidunga may be the ACC's most impactful frontcourt addition. He averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds at Kansas while shooting 64.0% from the field. He was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Big 12 selection, while ranking second nationally with 84 blocks.

Miami: Somto Cyril

Cyril gives Miami an elite rim protector after averaging 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks at Georgia. He shot 75.9% from the field, started 32 games and earned SEC All-Defensive Team honors.

NC State: Preston Edmead

Edmead was the CAA Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists at Hofstra. He also earned second-team All-CAA honors and shot 38.7% from three.

North Carolina: Matt Able

Able averaged 8.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists as a freshman at NC State, shooting 35.5% from three. He was also No. 20 in the 2025 RSCI Top 100, giving UNC a former highly regarded recruit with a year of ACC experience.

Notre Dame: Braeden Smith

Smith averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists at Gonzaga. The numbers don't tell the whole story: Smith previously won Patriot League Player of the Year at Colgate and has played in 105 total college games.

Pittsburgh: Naithan George

George joins the Panthers after averaging 10.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists at Syracuse. He started all 32 games and previously led the ACC in assists as a sophomore at Georgia Tech, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors. 

SMU: Rowan Brumbaugh

Brumbaugh was one of the nation's most productive guards at Tulane, averaging 19.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 36% from three. He earned All-American recognition after previously making the All-AAC team.

Stanford: Aziz Olajuwon

Olajuwon is a four-star prospect ranked No. 71 in ESPN's 2026 SC Next 100. The son of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon gives Stanford a highly regarded freshman to build around as the Cardinal replace much of their 2025-26 production.

Syracuse: Amarri Monroe

Monroe gives Syracuse an experienced frontcourt presence, although his eligibility situation makes this one worth monitoring. The former Quinnipiac standout averaged 15.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals last season and earned First Team All-MAAC and All-Defensive Team honors. His best season came in 2024-25, when he averaged 18.1 points and 9.1 rebounds and won MAAC Player of the Year.

Virginia: Jurian Dixon

Dixon averaged 15.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists at UC Irvine while shooting 38.5% from three. He brings three years of college experience and more than 1,000 career points to a Virginia team that needs additional perimeter scoring.

Virginia Tech: Ethan Copeland

Copeland averaged 15.0 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists at Stetson while shooting 42.9% from three. He made 109 three-pointers and scored at least 20 points nine times, making him a proven perimeter scorer for the Hokies.

Wake Forest: Kevair Kennedy

Kennedy was the MAAC Player and Rookie of the Year after averaging 18.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists at Merrimack. He also earned first-team All-MAAC honors and should immediately replace some of the scoring Wake Forest lost this offseason.