College basketball insider predicts ten ACC breakout players ahead of 2022-2023 season

College Basketball insider Jon Rothstein recently did a thorough breakdown of the ACC for his website, College Hoops Today. As part of it, he picked out 10 players he believes will break out during the 2022-23 season. Here was his list, which included only players who averaged below double figures in points last season:

2022-23 ACC breakout players

• Jeremy Roach, Duke
• Puff Johnson, North Carolina
• Reece Beekman, Virginia
• Kadin Shedrick, Virginia
• Jalen Warley, Florida State
• Darius Maddox, Virginia Tech
• Benny Williams, Syracuse
• El Ellis, Louisville
• Dallan Coleman, Georgia Tech
• Deivon Smith, Georgia Tech

Recap

No surprise to see a guy like Jeremy Roach at the very top of the list. He averaged eight points a game his first two seasons as a college basketball player, and made some huge shots during Duke’s Final Four run this past season. As a junior, he’ll be one of the few Blue Devils with residual experience under Coach K as Jon Scheyer welcomes a host of freshmen and transfers in his first year.

Puff Johnson is Cam’s little brother and wasn’t much of a difference-maker for most of the season with North Carolina. However, he kept the Tar Heels alive in the second half of the title game vs. Kansas, coming off the bench with several key buckets and rebounds. He’s likely featured as their sixth-man in 2023.

At Virginia, several veterans return but breakouts from Reece Beekman or Kadin Shedrick would really boost the Cavs. Shedrick figures to be the starting center and is entering his fourth season with the program as a redshirt junior. The time is now for him to step into a major role.

Elsewhere, Jaden Worley came in with a lot of potential as a top-60 recruit. He and Matthew Cleveland both showed flashes in year one and could really break out as sophomores. Meanwhile Syracuse lost three of its four leading scorers and could use a huge leap forward from a versatile forward like Benny Williams.

Lastly, El Ellis from Louisville has to step up or the Cards may not win a game in league play. As the roster currently sits, Ellis is the only true guard on the roster. He asked in the past to play as the primary point guard, and it looks like he’ll be tasked to do that and more. Seriously, Louisville will have to turn to forwards or walk-ons to play guard whenever Ellis sits, assuming they don’t add any more backcourt pieces before the season begins.