Duke Basketball: Blue Devils Most Likely to Make All-ACC Team

With so many talented players on Duke's roster, it might be difficult for individual talents to stand out.

College basketball is obviously a team sport, and the ultimate goal is winning a championship, but players want to be recognized for their efforts. This was easy last season when Grayson Allen and Brandon Ingram were able to put up enough numbers to earn spots on All-ACC teams.

Allen will return and should put up strong statistics again in 2016-17, but he will also have to share the ball a lot more than he did last year, thanks to a roster that could go 10 or 11 players deep. Incoming freshmen expecting to make a quick jump to the NBA won't necessarily want to take on smaller roles as secondary options.

As good as these players are, it might be difficult to convince voters to put them on all-conference squads at the end of the year. Still, the Blue Devils are almost certain to have at least a few selections by the time March rolls around.

Here is a look at those most likely to end up on an All-ACC team at year's end.

5. Amile Jefferson

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We don't yet know what the lineup will look like next season, and it's possible Amile Jefferson doesn't even start. Frank Jackson could be an excellent point guard, while fellow backcourt stars Matt Jones and Luke Kennard could also break out with huge years.

However, Jefferson has a better chance to end the season on an all-conference team than any of those men thanks to his work on the boards.

While the forward only played nine games last year, he was a true difference-maker in those contests. He averaged 11.4 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, including a 16-point, 15-rebound showing in a loss against Kentucky. He also had eight points, 11 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks in a blowout win over Indiana.

It was a small sample size, but he would have finished third in college basketball in offensive rebounding rate (17.8 percent) if he had played enough games to qualify, per KenPom.com.

Even if his numbers drop and his playing time disappears a bit, Jefferson still could be a double-double machine as one of the top bigs in the ACC.

4. Harry Giles

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There are a lot of question marks surrounding Harry Giles. He is coming off the second major knee injury of his young career, which could lead to reduced minutes early in the year. He is also involved in the logjam in the frontcourt.

With that said, Giles is a truly dominant player when he is 100 percent and gets a chance to shine.

Similar to Ben Simmons, the recent No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, Giles is a 6'10" player with a guard-like handle that makes him a weapon anywhere on the court. He knows how to score inside, but he can also slash from the perimeter and attack the glass. If given space, he is also capable of knocking down an outside shot.

Although he doesn't quite have Simmons' passing ability, Giles is a major scoring threat who is almost unguardable at the college level. On a lesser team, the incoming freshman could easily average 20 points and 10 rebounds per game and possibly more.

Still, the question marks about availability and opportunity remain, keeping him lower on this list than he otherwise should be.

3. Jayson Tatum

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When it comes to pure scoring ability, Jayson Tatum might be the best in the 2016 recruiting class. Considering the competition, that is high praise.

Tatum has an advanced skill set that allows him to score at every level. He knows how to create his own looks, including with an impressive mid-range game not often seen from players his age. He is consistent from the outside but also capable of driving and scoring in the paint.

He can do all of this at 6'8", creating some major mismatches for opponents that will only get tougher with other talented players on the floor.

The wing is a bit one-dimensional at this point of his career, mostly focusing on scoring above everything else. With other players taking away field-goal attempts, this could limit his overall production and keep him off the all-conference teams.

Even so, his scoring ability alone could get him into the postseason honors.

2. Marques Bolden

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What separates Marques Bolden from the rest of the freshmen in the class? His ability to contribute in a variety of ways besides just scoring.

Tatum, Giles and even Frank Jackson are rated higher on prospect lists, per 247Sports, but Bolden could end up being the most important addition to next year's team. The 6'11" center can be a star on the defensive end, blocking shots and making the entire unit better. He should also be prepared to bring in a whole bunch of rebounds over the course of the year.

Bolden does have ability on the offensive end, including a developing back-to-the-basket repertoire. However, there are enough scoring weapons on this roster that he might not need to do much more than just finish off dunks and put back offensive rebounds.

Picture Marshall Plumlee—with a lot more talent and athletic ability.

Even if he only averages 10 points per game, Bolden could easily earn an All-ACC nod with his rebounding and defense.

1. Grayson Allen

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Even if there are debates over the rest of this list, it's tough to argue Grayson Allen being No. 1. After averaging 21.6 points per game last season, the shooting guard should return as a preseason All-American, let alone All-ACC.

While the addition of legitimate scorers around him might take away some of his shot attempts, it's important to note that Allen was more than just a volume scorer last year. The guard was incredibly efficient with his shooting, making 50.2 percent of his two-point attempts, 41.7 percent of his three-point shots and 83.7 percent from the free-throw line.

These shooting numbers might go up as he faces less attention from opposing defenses and gets more open shots.

Even if his points per game do drop a bit during his junior season, Allen should be the leading scorer on one of the best teams in the conference. This should make him almost a shoo-in to be first-team All-ACC as long as he stays healthy. 

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