ACC Basketball: Power Ranking the Conference's Top 7 Incoming Freshmen

Since its initiation into the NCAA back in 1953, the Atlantic Coast Conference has never had a freshman as its Player of the Year. ACC teams have won 12 NCAA championships and made 42 Final Four appearances, but not once has the league's most outstanding player been a freshman.

But due to the departure of North Carolina's core four, Duke's Austin Rivers and Virginia's Mike Scott, the door has swung wide open for a talented freshman to nab that coveted award and cement their name in ACC history.

According to both Rivals and ESPN, none of the top 10 prospects are headed to ACC schools. Nonetheless, a bevy of McDonald's All-Americans and high school standouts will be arriving this fall.

Here are the power rankings of the ACC's top incoming freshmen.

Honorable Mention: Amile Jefferson

Undersized power forward Amile Jefferson from Philadelphia is one of four McDonald's All-Americans yet to decide where he will play in college. But two of the five schools on his list are from the ACC; Duke and North Carolina State.

Both are considered to be in a favorable position to snatch up the talented prospect from Friends Central High School, which is why Jefferson is an honorable mention.

Strengths

Jefferson, a 6'7'', 190-pound wing, has a 7-footer's wingspan and outstanding athleticism. He is one of the most versatile players in the 2012 class, with the ability to effectively produce anywhere within 18 feet of the rim.

For a player who provides an intimidating post presence like Jefferson does, he can handle the ball exceedingly well. His supreme length can be attributed for his excellence as a shot-blocker.

Weaknesses

The most noticeable flaw in Jefferson's game is his frail frame. He often struggles to hold his own battling for rebounds due to his lean build and lack of muscle. Fortunately for Jefferson, strength is an asset that can easily be developed by hitting the weight room.

If he chooses an ACC school

If Jefferson were to select the Wolfpack or the Blue Devils, he would warrant a spot on this exclusive list, potentially in the upper half, bringing length and athleticism to either roster.

7. Justin Anderson, Virginia

A 6'5'', 210-pound slashing guard, Justin Anderson once committed to play for legendary coach Gary Williams at Maryland. But following Williams' retirement, Anderson lost interest in College Park and followed Maryland assistant Rob Ehsan to Virginia.

Strengths

Anderson is a speedy two-guard who will be able to make the SportsCenter Top 10 a place called home. Eye-popping athleticism puts Anderson in a class of few on the offensive end of the court.

An inconsistent shooter from three-point range, Anderson makes up for that with an impressive mid-range game and incredible above-the-rim capabilities. This Montrose Christian standout is a 20-point performance waiting to happen.

Weaknesses

Self-control heads that category for Anderson. No player can run the half-court offense by himself, including the high-flying Anderson.

His sometimes reckless style of play often leads to foul trouble. Coach Tony Bennett will need to discipline Anderson, as well as closely monitor his minutes.

How he fits into Virginia's roster

Last season, Virginia was the 10th-highest scoring team in the ACC (274th in the NCAA), and still managed to earn a respectable No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament. With the loss of All-ACC first-teamer Mike Scott, this young Cavalier team is going to need an infusion of scoring talent.

Three point-specialist Sammy Zeglinski graduates as well, meaning Anderson is in line to become the premier scorer for a team attempting to prove they are not a one-year wonder. If returning junior Joe Harris can partner up with Anderson to form a dangerous backcourt duo that can combine for 35 points on a regular basis, watch out for the Cavs.

Bennett will be able to utilize Anderson's rapid scoring ability in many ways, making him a terrific fit for Virginia.

6. Robert Carter, Georgia Tech

The state of Georgia is underrated as a basketball recruiting hotbed. This year's class featured three top big men in Tony Parker, Shaq Goodwin and Robert Carter. Of those three, Carter is the only one who has chosen to stay in-state,  signing with Georgia Tech.

Strengths

Carter has an NFL lineman-sized physique at 6'8'', 250, and puts that large frame to good use. Clearing out the lane with force comes second nature to Carter, creating easy layup and dunk opportunities for himself.

The Shiloh High alum has tremendous court vision outside of the post, making his teammates better as well. Carter will bring back the rugged, interior presence that Georgia Tech has been missing since Derrick Favors bolted for the NBA.

Weaknesses

At 6'8'', many college centers will outmatch Carter's size, forcing him to step away from the basket, which is not Carter's strength. Developing a consistent mid-range jump shot would add a much needed dimension to his game.

How he fits into Georgia Tech's roster

Arguably Georgia Tech's best player and top scorer, Glen Rice Jr. was suspended indefinitely toward the end of last season, and has been dismissed from the Georgia Tech basketball program. Despite playing a different position than Rice Jr., Carter is going to provide serious help for a team that has a desperate need for talent.

Juniors Daniel Miller and Kammeon Holsey may initially start over Carter in the frontcourt. But after their graduation in 2013, Carter should become the premier scoring option and defensive stopper for Brian Gregory's squad.

5. Shaquille Cleare, Maryland

Former Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon knows how to successfully recruit the state of Texas, even if he is now coaching in College Park, Md. Back-to-the-basket center Shaquille Cleare hails from Houston and is packing his bags to fly to Maryland to play for the Terps.

Strengths

A 6'10'' 270-pound specimen, Cleare has the ability to man the paint all by himself. He is your prototypical center. He has well-crafted post moves, a torturous sky hook and is a bully on the boards.

Cleare specializes in rebounding, and he is more than proficient cleaning the glass on both ends of the court. With his burly frame, Cleare does all the dirty work.

Weaknesses

Having the ability to provide points and rebounds is nice, but if one cannot push himself down the court in a timely manner, those skills are useless.

Cleare needs to be in the gym running wind sprints every single day if he is going to receive serious minutes as a freshman. With the correct training and discipline, Cleare won't end up like the freshman version of Fab Melo and ride the pine for 35 minutes each contest.

How he fits in to Maryland's roster

It won't surprise me if Cleare doesn't start right away, especially if he is not conditioned properly.

Alex Len, a 7'1' future professional from Ukraine, is looking to bounce back from a mediocre freshman season. Point forward James Padgett finished his junior season nicely, showing improved post finesse on the offensive end, and looks to take a leadership role during his final year in College Park.

Again, I'm not expecting miraculous outputs from Cleare as a freshman. But, if Len stays in Maryland past his sophomore year and slides down to his more natural 4 position, no one will be able to attack the rim against the Terps.

The combination of Cleare and Len will be reminiscent of the 2011 combination of John Henson and Tyler Zeller at North Carolina, but potentially even more efficient.

4. T.J. Warren, N.C. State

Mark Gottfried may have taken a few years off to become an ESPN analyst, but he shook off that rust extremely fast. By bringing in three McDonald's All-Americans, including T.J. Warren, and a top five class, the state of North Carolina has a new force in the recruiting world.

Strengths

At 6'7" and 205 pounds, T.J. Warren has tremendous size for the style of basketball he plays. An extremely versatile small forward, he is explosive off the dribble, but can stop and pop as well.

Warren makes a living on the wing, where he showcases a solid jump shot. His ability to draw fouls on a consistent basis is evidence of a high basketball IQ.

Weaknesses

While out-of-this-world athleticism is a strength for most high school recruits nowadays, the same cannot be said for Warren. Possibly with the correct training that issue can be addressed.

In addition, Warren can get very shot-happy from the perimeter as he has shown in numerous high school all-star games. He needs to learn to better control and discipline his game. He is going to need to exert the energy and effort needed to transform those weaknesses into strengths.

How he fits in to N.C. State's roster

The Wolfpack roster has one gaping hole, and that hole is an aggressive wing. Their only true wing from last season's Sweet 16 team was C.J. Williams, who was very productive, but he graduates this spring.

Center DeShawn Painter transferred out of the Wolfpack program to move closer to his ailing grandmother, leaving N.C. State with a need for size. If Amile Jefferson does not commit to playing in Raleigh, Warren may be asked to bulk up and play on the block as a power forward.

Blossoming stars C.J. Leslie and Richard Howell return to a solid frontcourt, but those two can only play so many minutes.

3. Marcus Paige, North Carolina

Losing arguably the best distributor in college basketball after just two seasons is no problem, as long as you can replace him. Kendall Marshall bolted for the NBA, but Roy Williams has scooped up another star point guard in Linn-Marr High School alum Marcus Paige.

Strengths

To be honest, there is a lot to like about Paige. He has a unique ability to create and make his own shot, especially beyond the arc.

Similar to Marshall, Paige makes his teammates happy by driving through the lane, then finding open shooters on the wing or finishers by the basket.

Paige is a textbook on-ball defender, similar to Ohio State's Aaron Craft. He gets low in his stance and is conditioned to hang with anybody off the dribble.

Weaknesses

Talent can only bring you to a certain level. At that next level, basketball IQ is what takes your game even further, and this is where Paige has room to grow. He needs to realize where he is positioned at all times on the offensive end and not get trapped in non-favorable circumstances.

Currently, Paige is relying solely on quickness to get the job done. But the weight room is screaming his name. At a modest 160 pounds, Paige needs to put on a few dozen pounds to compete with the nation's top point guards.

How he fits in to North Carolina's roster

To say that Roy Williams has no one left in Chapel Hill is just unfair to the talent that remains. But he does have some serious holes. Reggie Bullock, Dexter Strickland, P.J. Hairston, and Leslie McDonald are all returning guards, but none of them have the true point-guard qualities that Paige does, giving the freshman an opportunity to start and contribute right away.

A lack of proven returning talent in the frontcourt is the reason the Tar Heels are hearing the naysayers. But if Paige can turn James Michael McAdoo into an All-American power forward, every critic will be silenced for good.

2. Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke

For the 28th consecutive season, Mike Krzyzewski has successfully recruited a McDonald's All-American to Durham, N.C. No, that was not a typo. In 2012, the player who falls into that category is Rasheed Sulaimon.

Strengths

What a surprise, another three-point specialist heads to Duke. Sulaimon shoots lights out beyond the arc, proving that with four three-pointers in the McDonald's All-American game.

Sulaimon is not one-dimensional, though. A pure scoring talent, Sulaimon can drive to the basket and has a flashy mid-range game as well.

Weaknesses

If you noticed, all of Sulaimon's strengths were associated with offense. There's a reason for that. He  may be quick and elusive, but his defense is iffy. Sometimes he lets ball-handlers get by him without much of an effort to stop them. His basketball IQ is not wowing anyone, either.

How he fits in to Duke's roster

Duke obviously lost its stud, Austin Rivers, as an early entry into the NBA draft. Sulaimon is not going to fill that hole because he won't be playing point guard in college.

With Quinn Cook as the new Blue Devil quarterback, Sulaimon will have to compete with Seth Curry, Tyler Thornton and Andre Dawkins for minutes at shooting guard.

Rumors have been circulating that Dawkins will either redshirt his fourth season in Durham, or possibly even leave the program. None of those claims are definite, but the departure of Dawkins would create opportunities for Sulaimon.

Highly touted 2011 recruit Michael Gbinije, who was also a wing, has transferred out of Duke.

1. Rodney Purvis, N.C. State

Rodney Purvis was in a dead heat with Rasheed Sulaimon for the coveted top spot in these power rankings. But that was before the Jordan Brand Classic was played, and Purvis completely outshined Sulaimon, earning co-MVP honors along with UCLA commit Shabazz Muhammad.

Strengths

At 6'4" and 190 pounds, Purvis has favorable physical attributes to be a shooting guard. Similar to Justin Anderson, Purvis is a playmaker who can penetrate the lane whenever he wants. Give the Upper Room Christian Academy alum the open floor and a highlight-reel dunk will ensue.

Purvis' supreme athleticism gives him the potential to become a lockdown defender and one of the top rebounders at his position.

Weaknesses

The one category in which Sulaimon outshines Purvis is in three-point shooting. The N.C. State commit can find the mark occasionally, but not consistently enough to move his game to the next level.

As a high school player, Purvis has not been an excellent rebounder. But his quickness and jumping ability give him the tools to develop in that area.

How he fits in to N.C. State's roster

Last season, junior Scott Wood started at shooting guard for the Pack, averaging 12.5 points per game. Despite that solid scoring figure, Wood is as one-dimensional as they come.

Like Steve Novak of the New York Knicks, Wood is a dead-on three-point shooter, with the most astonishing combination of quick release and accuracy I have ever seen.

But Wood is far too one-dimensional to remain a starter once Purvis enters the mix. Purvis should be able to start right away, along with Lorenzo Brown, T.J. Warren, Richard Howell and star C.J. Leslie. That lineup makes the Wolfpack a scary preseason leader in the ACC.