ACC Tournament 2012: Top Players to Watch in First-Round Action

Duke and North Carolina won't take the court at Phillips Arena in Atlanta until Friday, but that doesn't mean you should simply ignore the first round of the 2012 ACC tournament.

Sure, most of the teams that'll be in action on Thursday have little or no shot of making the NCAA tournament, though that doesn't mean there won't be plenty of star power on display for all of college basketball to see.

C.J. Leslie, North Carolina State

North Carolina State is the only team in action on Day 1 of the ACC tourney with so much as a prayer of earning an at-large bid into the Big Dance, thanks in large part to the efforts of C.J. Leslie. The 6'8" sophomore is the Wolfpack's go-to scorer at 14.3 points per game to with 7.1 rebounds and team-highs in blocks (1.7) and steals (1.1).

Leslie's had considerable success against Boston College, whom NC State will face on Thursday, averaging 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in two previous meeting with the Eagles. 

Terrell Stoglin, Maryland

Don't let Maryland's 16-14 record fool you—Mark Turgeon's team has some serious talent on hand.

Case in point: Terrell Stoglin, who leads the ACC in scoring at 21.2 points per game. The sophomore from Tucson should savor the Terp's tangle with Wake Forest after dropping 20 on the Demon Deacons in January.

Kenny Kadji, Miami (FL)

Frank Haith may have bolted for greener pastures at Missouri, but he left behind a solid foundation at Miami for Jim Larranaga to build on.

Chief among said foundation is Kenny Kadji, who's emerged as a force for the Hurricanes in his first season since transferring from Florida. The 6'11" junior ranks second on the squad in scoring (12.9 PPG) and rebounding (5.6 RPG) and leads the 'Canes in blocks (1.7 BPG), field-goal percentage (52.2 percent) and three-point shooting (46.7 percent).

The native Cameroonian had one of his finest games of the season against Georgia Tech—21 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block—whom he and The U will see in Atlanta in the first round of the ACC tourney.

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