The Top 10 NBA 2017 Draft Prospects in the ACC

Youth will be served in the ACC during the 2016-17 season, as 11 of the top 30 players in 247Sports' recruiting rankings are headed to the league this fall. This influx of new talent comes as the ACC says goodbye to some big names, many of whom are likely to get drafted into the NBA later this month.

We'll probably be saying the same thing a year from now, in terms of the to-the-pros talent exodus, based on the number of ACC players listed on DraftExpress' early 2017 mock draft. And, not surprisingly, a lot of the best pro prospects have yet to start their college careers.

It's not entirely about the incoming freshmen in the ACC, though. Check out our rankings of the league's best 2017 NBA prospects to see what we mean.

Honorable Mentions

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It wouldn't be surprising to see more than 10 NBA draft picks in 2017 come from the ACC, considering who will be playing in this league. Sadly, we had to limit our rankings to that number, and thus some well-regarded prospects didn't make the cut.

• Dwayne Bacon, So., Florida State (SF/6'5”, 202 lbs)
• V.J. Beachem, Sr., Notre Dame (SF/6'8”, 200 lbs)
• Frank Jackson, Fr., Duke (PG/6'3”, 210 lbs)
• Kennedy Meeks, Sr., North Carolina (C/6'9”, 279 lbs)
• Austin Nichols, Jr., Virginia (PF/6'9”, 230 lbs)
• Tyler Roberson, Sr., Syracuse (PF/6'8”, 215 lbs)

10. Justin Jackson, Jr., North Carolina

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Position: Small forward

Height, weight: 6'8”, 193 lbs

The No. 9 player in the 2014 recruiting class, Justin Jackson was also the highest-rated prospect from that class not to turn pro after one season. The hope was a rise in performance as a sophomore would increase his draft stock, yet Jackson's numbers didn't show much of an improvement.

He averaged 12.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season, up from 10.7/3.7/2.3 as a freshman in slightly fewer minutes. His shooting rate dropped from 47.7 percent overall and 30.4 percent from three-point range to 46.6 percent and 29.2.

North Carolina wasn't worse for wear because of this, thanks to a deep lineup with plenty of offensive options, and it again has a lot to work with in 2016-17. Jackson will need to find a way to stand out amid all that talent.

9. Jaron Blossomgame, Sr., Clemson

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Position: Small forward

Height, weight: 6'7”, 214 lbs

Thanks to an improved shot he showed off during the 2015-16 season, Jaron Blossomgame rose up draft boards and looked like someone who could have gone from late in the first round to midway through the second round. By coming back, he's betting he can end up challenging for a lottery spot next season.

"All along, Blossomgame maintained he would consider leaving for good if he discovered his draft estimate to fall somewhere between picks 25 and 40," Aaron Brenner of the Post and Courier wrote. "As Blossomgame and his coaches indicated, that range was precisely the feedback he received from NBA scouts and general managers during the course of seven individual team visits and the NBA Scouting Combine in early May."

Blossomgame averaged a career-best 18.7 points per game and also led Clemson in rebounding per game at 6.7. He shot 51.3 percent overall and 44.1 percent from three-point range, a major improvement from 24.8 percent from outside for his first two seasons.

8. Grayson Allen, Jr., Duke

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Position: Shooting guard

Height, weight: 6'4”, 185 lbs

Duke's leading scorer and breakout star from last season was among the first big names to not opt for the NBA draft despite changes that made it possible to go through the evaluation process and come back. This was technically the second time Grayson Allen has had to announce he was returning to the Blue Devils, as his sudden burst during the 2015 Final Four prompted some to wonder if he'd use that momentum to turn pro.

It made plenty of sense for Allen to come back as a sophomore after hardly playing much of his first season. Making the same choice after scoring 21.6 points per game, 15th-best in Division I, was another matter.

NBA teams love his energy and enthusiasm, as well as the fire and intensity that has made him one of the more polarizing players in college basketball. What they do not like, though, is a lack of defensive instincts that often made him a liability.

On a much deeper Duke team in 2016-17 we'll get to see how he can address this issue while also finding his role on offense among many other talented scorers.

7. Omer Yurtseven, Fr., North Carolina State

Position: Center

Height, weight: 7'0”, 240 lbs

Turkish-born Omer Yurtseven signed with North Carolina State in mid-May, a day after an amazing individual performance for his club team. It's unlikely he'll manage to drop 91 points on 34-of-49 shooting with the Wolfpack, but just knowing he's capable of scoring in bunches bodes well for a team coming off a rough 16-17 record in 2015-16.

Yurtseven should make for an imposing sidekick alongside any of NC State's other big men, including 6'8”, 240-pound Abdul-Malik Abu and 6'9”, 285-pound BeeJay Anya. And combined with fellow freshman Dennis Smith in the backcourt, the Wolfpack might have its best inside-out duo in years.

The NBA won't be too far off for Yurtseven, who has already had experience against players from that league. Last fall his club team played the Brooklyn Nets and Oklahoma City Thunder in preseason games.

6. Marques Bolden, Fr., Duke

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Position: Center

Height, weight: 6'11”, 250 lbs

As if Duke wasn't going to be loaded enough this season, it added another stud prospect in May when Marques Bolden picked the Blue Devils over Kentucky. The top-rated center in the 2016 class would have been in good shape at either school since both have become go-to destinations for one-and-done players, what Bolden figures to be based on his status as the No. 8 pick in DraftExpress' 2017 mock draft.

At Duke, though, he'll have a spot all to himself at the five compared to having to share minutes at the position at Kentucky. Some have made comparisons to former Duke standout Jahlil Okafor, though on a less-grand scale.

"Bolden doesn't enter college with as much hype as Okafor, but he has a similar skill set as a back-to-the-basket scorer with long arms," Ricky O'Donnell of SB Nation wrote.

5. Tyler Lydon, So., Syracuse

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Position: Small forward

Height, weight: 6'9”, 205 lbs

A strong indicator that Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim has a “type” when it comes to the players he recruits is that 2015 additions Tyler Lydon and Malachi Richardson were essentially carbon copies. Each was a long-and-lean wing who loved to shoot three-pointers but could also hold their own on the glass.

Their freshman numbers were similar, too. The 6'6” Richardson averaged 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 35.3 percent on threes, while Lydon averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds and hit 40.5 percent of his three-pointers. The two main differences: Richardson did so as a starter and used his performance to jump to the pros, while Lydon came off the bench and is sticking around for at least another year.

Lydon will take Richardson's starting spot and figures to be a major focus of the Orange's offense. He'll also be a critical piece of their patented zone defense, coming off an initial campaign in which his 16.5 percent defensive rebounding rate was second only to starting center DaJuan Coleman's among regulars.

4. Jonathan Isaac, Fr., Florida State

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Position: Small forward

Height, weight: 6'11”, 205 lbs

Jonathan Isaac is Florida State's latest top-tier recruit under coach Leonard Hamilton, but for a brief time earlier this year it looked like he'd never suit up for the Seminoles.

In February, Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel reported that Isaac was exploring whether he'd be eligible to enter the 2016 NBA draft by virtue of the fact he was in his fifth year of high school and thus met the requirement that he was one year removed from his initial graduating class. It's the same loophole that enabled Thon Maker to enter the draft out of high school, but Maker's fifth year was a post-graduate one while Isaac didn't graduate until this spring.

He ultimately backed off trying to become eligible, telling USA Today's Jim Halley he wasn't ready for the pros. "I have a lot of lot of ways to go, a lot of work to do. My strength has been kind of my Achilles’ heel in basketball, so I need to work on my strength."

Give him a year to build up some bulk and hone his craft and expect Isaac to be part of the draft process next spring.

3. Dennis Smith, Fr., North Carolina State

Position: Point guard

Height, weight: 6'2”, 160 lbs

The No. 7 prospect in the 2016 class, Dennis Smith was unable to play his senior year of high school due to a torn ACL. Rather than kick back and wait for college to begin, he enrolled at North Carolina State in January after graduating early, thus making it possible to do his rehab with college trainers in an effort to be ready for his freshman year.

Smith was a frequent visitor to NC State's sidelines during games this past season, though he technically remains a true freshman and hasn't used up any eligibility. Not that he's apt to use it all, since scouts are very high on him being a pro player sooner rather than later.

ESPN's Chad Ford has Dennis Smith pegged as a "lottery pick" in 2017, writing that "he's got a chance to be special as an NBA player."

Smith should play right away, assuming he's healthy, as NC State lost leading scorer Cat Barber to the NBA draft.

2. Jayson Tatum, Fr., Duke

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Position: Small forward

Height, weight: 6'8”, 204 lbs

The first member of Duke's star-studded recruiting class to come on board when he committed last summer, Jayson Tatum is the versatile wing the Blue Devils sorely lacked a year ago. Actually, they had such a player in Brandon Ingram, but he was forced to play the 4 due to depth issues in the frontcourt.

Tatum won't have to deal with the same situation thanks to Duke's deeper 2016-17 roster, which means he'll be able to capitalize on his size and what should often be mismatches against smaller defenders.

"He is more smooth than he is explosive as an athlete, even if he'll surprise you at times with his ability to finish around the rim in transition," DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony wrote after watching Tatum at the Nike Hoop Summit in April. " ... He has all the tools to be an incredibly versatile player, but is still figuring out how to make the most of them at this stage."

1. Harry Giles, Fr., Duke

Position: Power forward

Height, weight: 6'11”, 222 lbs

Harry Giles spent much of his senior year ranked No. 1 in the 2016 recruiting class, ultimately ending up second-best. This occurred while he was on the sideline for nearly all of that season, the result of a torn ACL in his right knee suffered in November in his first game for Oak Hill Academy.

It was the second such injury for Giles during his prep career, as he tore ligaments in his left knee as a sophomore. Despite those hardships, his ceiling is amazingly high. He sits atop DraftExpress' latest 2017 mock draft, but much will depend on how his rehab goes.

According to Laura Keeley of the News & Observer, Duke is “being conservative with” Giles as he goes through rehab twice a day. His time on the court has been minimal, though the fact he's already on campus bodes well for his recovery.

Giles is somewhat of a blend of Duke's last two superstar freshmen in the post, combining Jahlil Okafor's interior abilities with Brandon Ingram's athleticism and shooting touch.

All statistics courtesy of Sports-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted. All recruiting information from 247Sports, unless otherwise noted.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.