ACC's Top 25 Players: No. 17

No. 17—Glen Rice, Jr., GUARD—GEORGIA TECH

I’ll be honest, this is more of a gut pick than anything else. With Derrick Favors, Zachery Peacock and Gani Lawal all gone, next year’s Yellow Jackets are going to be a completely different team.

It’s going to be all about the young, talented guards. I’m taking about Iman Shumpert (who I already have on this list), Mfon Udofia, Maurice Miller (who is a senior) and Glen Rice, Jr.

While Iman Shumpert and Mfon Udofia are both point guards, look for Coach Hewitt to insert Rice into the starting lineup at shooting guard and tell him to launch it at will.

The fact is, Glen Rice Jr. is a smart basketball player who knows how to pick his spots on the court. In 18 minutes last year, he scored 5.4 ppg, shooting 43 percent from the floor and an impressive 47 percent from three. Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised that the son of NBA and Michigan star Glen Rice, Sr. has a high basketball IQ.

Last year, he twice shot 6-6 from the floor and he was a solid 4-5 against Duke. He’s also pretty solid banging on the boards, which will be key for Tech this year. He twice grabbed eight boards in games last season.

Heading into 2010, coach Paul Hewitt will be re-installing the motion offense. No player should benefit more than Glen Rice, Jr. While he’s not a fantastic athlete, he won’t need to be. The motion offense will get Georgia Tech’s big men floating around, setting screens for Rice. If he gets the open looks, he should have little problems knocking ‘em down.

No. 18 – REGGIE BULLOCK, GUARD – NORTH CAROLINA

No. 19 – MASON PLUMLEE, FORWARD – DUKE

No. 20 – C.J. HARRIS, GUARD – WAKE FOREST

No. 21 – SETH CURRY, GUARD – DUKE

No. 22 – SEAN MOSLEY, GUARD – MARYLAND

No. 23 – JOE TRAPANI, FORWARD – BOSTON COLLEGE

No. 24 – MIKE SCOTT, FORWARD – VIRGINIA

No. 25 - IMAN SHUMPERT, GUARD – GEORGIA TECH