Duke Basketball: Ranking the Best Players the Blue Devils Will Face in 2016-17

Some of the best players in college basketball next season will be on Duke's roster, but the Blue Devils will still match up with some tough competition over the course of the year.

Adding nonconference games against Kansas, Florida, Michigan State, UNLV and more to a difficult ACC slate, Duke will be challenged throughout the season. Meanwhile, this schedule will also provide a chance to see many of the top players around the country.

Between likely one-and-done freshmen and experienced seniors, the Blue Devils will have to prepare for a lot of different types of players throughout the season.

While there are clearly a lot more top players, especially in the ACC, here is a look at the biggest stars Duke will face in 2016-17.

Honorable Mentions

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Tyler Lydon, Syracuse: Scouts are expecting a big leap from Tyler Lydon this season, who was a major part of Syracuse's run to the Final Four a year ago.

The 6'8" forward has a wide skill set and good athleticism that allows him to contribute both offensively and defensively. He averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while knocking down 40.5 percent of his shots from three-point range. Additionally, his 1.8 blocks per game ranked fourth in the ACC.

With most of the Orange stars moving on to the next level, Lydon could become an extremely productive player.

Joel Berry, North Carolina: With Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson gone, it will be up to Joel Berry and Justin Jackson to become the go-to options on North Carolina.

Berry proved to be the more aggressive player last season and was excellent in the NCAA tournament, including 20 points in the national championship game. However, he struggled mightily against Duke, shooting 5-of-23 from the field in two games (2-of-11 from three).

Even with his struggles last season, his quickness at point guard will be tough for Duke to defend.

Justin Jackson, North Carolina: Berry appears likely to become the leader on North Carolina, but Jackson has the most upside. The 6'8" wing has great handle to slash to the rim and a developed mid-range game. The only thing he is missing is a consistent outside shot to make him an even bigger offensive threat.

If he improves his consistency and becomes more aggressive with the ball, he could be one of the toughest matchups for Duke all season.

Miles Bridges, Michigan State: Duke has been great at the ACC-Big Ten Challenge over the years, and while Michigan State is always a tough opponent, this is the year you want to face this team early. After losing Denzel Valentine and much of the team's production from this past season's squad, the Spartans will have to deal with a bit of a rebuild.

The good news for Michigan State is there is a lot of talent coming in with the 2016 class, especially Miles Bridges. The 6'6" wing is one of the most versatile players in the class with the ability to score both inside and out, making an impact on both ends of the court.

Although the team will likely be more dangerous in March, Bridges still represents a major threat early.

5. Dwayne Bacon, Florida State

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Jonathan Isaac might be Florida State's most talented player next season as a 6'10" athlete who can play either forward spot. According to DraftExpress, the incoming freshman has a chance to become a lottery pick next season.

However, Dwayne Bacon should be the team's top option and a legitimate threat to be first-team All-ACC next season.

Bacon is coming off an excellent freshman year in Tallahassee, where he averaged a team-high 15.8 points per game. He sometimes lacked consistency, but the 6'7" guard is as good around the net as anyone in the conference. If he can improve upon his 28.1 percent shooting from three-point range, he will be especially terrifying for opponents.

Against Duke, the guard could be the type of long athlete who could give Grayson Allen trouble offensively.

The ACC is losing many of its top performers from a year ago, but Bacon will return and should have a huge year for the Seminoles.

4. London Perrantes, Virginia

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Virginia has been one of the top teams in the country over the past three years, thanks in large part to the steadiness of London Perrantes leading the way at point guard. Although he took a back seat as a scorer his first two seasons, he has been a top distributor all along, averaging 4.2 assists and just 1.5 turnovers per game throughout his three-year career.

Last season, Perrantes became more aggressive offensively and averaged 11 points per game while shooting an incredible 48.8 percent from three-point range, one of the best in college basketball.

Although he isn't the quickest or most athletic point guard, he makes all the right decisions on both ends of the court and is the perfect leader for head coach Tony Bennett at Virginia.

With Malcolm Brogdon and Anthony Gill now gone, Perrantes should take on more of a scoring role to pair with his passing and efficient shooting. If the senior lives up to expectations, the Cavaliers should once again be a top contender in the ACC.

3. Jaron Blossomgame, Clemson

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Although he isn't a household name, Jaron Blossomgame has a chance to be a star during the 2016-17 season.

The Clemson forward has made dramatic improvements throughout his career. After averaging 4.9 points per game as a freshman, he jumped to 13.1 PPG as a sophomore and eventually 18.7 PPG during his junior season. Adding in 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, it was no wonder he was named first-team All-ACC by the media.

One of the keys to Blossomgame's breakout has been his ability to add an outside shot, knocking down 44.1 percent of three-pointers last season. This allowed him to transfer from an undersized big man into an elite wing who can produce with a high level of efficiency.

According to Sports-Reference.com, Blossomgame finished the 2015-16 season with the second-highest player efficiency rating in the ACC, trailing only North Carolina forward Brice Johnson.

Clemson hasn't made the NCAA tournament in the last five seasons, but Blossomgame has a chance to carry the Tigers back to the postseason.

2. Dennis Smith Jr., North Carolina State

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Although he was a bit of the forgotten man this past year after tearing his ACL, Dennis Smith Jr. reintroduced himself at the recent Adidas Nations. 

Jonathan Givony of The Vertical wrote that Smith "looked as quick and explosive as he ever. He told The Vertical he’s '110 percent' and 'stronger physically and mentally' than he ever was before the injury."

His dominant performance helped the incoming freshman rise up draft boards, as high as No. 2 on the latest DraftExpress projections for the 2017 NBA class. Most would be surprised to see him higher than any of the Duke prospects, including Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum.

When healthy, Smith is an ideal point guard with the quickness and athleticism to get into the lane almost at will. Pairing him with fellow freshman Omer Yurtseven could help North Carolina State once again become one of the top teams in the ACC.

1. Josh Jackson, Kansas

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Tatum and Giles are elite prospects, but Josh Jackson is the No. 1 player in the 2016 class, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Jackson comes into his freshman season with elite athleticism and the strength to attack the basket whenever there is an opening. At 6'7", he could easily play inside and be successful on the offensive end.

Of course, Jackson really is best suited as a guard with his handle, shooting ability and willingness to pass the ball. He is also more than capable of becoming a shutdown player defensively, thanks to his length and aggressiveness.

There aren't many players in college basketball who will be able to match players like Allen and Tatum on the perimeter, but the Kansas guard is one who can. With Jackson, Frank Mason III, Devonte' Graham and others, the Jayhawks will once again represent a tough battle in this year's Champions Classic.

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