The Raleigh News & Observer had a nice post about former ACC players who are currently in the NBA. The ACC has more players in the NBA than any other conference ... with Duke having more players in The League than any other school.
So who would win in an ACC alumni game? Instead of having a huge bench for the teams that are blessed, I'll put no more than four guys on the bench. Only four ACC teams can field a full roster (Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Wake Forest) so the fifth team will be made up of all the other players in the league.
No. 1: WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS
G-Chris Paul
G-Jeff Teague
F-Josh Howard
F-James Johnson
C-Tim Duncan
BENCH-Darius Songala
The Deacons have a bonafide Hall of Famer in Duncan and one of the current best players in the League in Paul. That will help offset the youth and inexperience of Teague and Johnson.
No. 2: DUKE BLUE DEVILS
G-Chris Duhon
G-Corey Maggette
F-Shane Battier
F-Carlos Boozer
C-Elton Brand
BENCH-Grant Hill, Mike Dunleavy, Luol Deng, J.J. Redick
Duke's front line is impressive, even though there aren't any true centers on it. This is a very good defensive team and has the ACC's longest tenured NBA player, Grant Hill, to lean on.
No. 3: NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS
G-Raymond Felton
G-Vince Carter
F-Marvin Williams
F-Antawn Jamison
C-Rasheed Wallace
BENCH-Brandan Haywood, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough
The Heels have an interesting makeup. They have guys that go back to the Dean Smith era and fresh faces that just stepped into the league. Sheed, Vince and Jamison have reached a higher altitude of individual success than anyone on Duke, but only Wallace has a title to show for it.
So who would win in an ACC alumni game? Instead of having a huge bench for the teams that are blessed, I'll put no more than four guys on the bench. Only four ACC teams can field a full roster (Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Wake Forest) so the fifth team will be made up of all the other players in the league.
No. 1: WAKE FOREST DEMON DEACONS
G-Chris Paul
G-Jeff Teague
F-Josh Howard
F-James Johnson
C-Tim Duncan
BENCH-Darius Songala
The Deacons have a bonafide Hall of Famer in Duncan and one of the current best players in the League in Paul. That will help offset the youth and inexperience of Teague and Johnson.
No. 2: DUKE BLUE DEVILS
G-Chris Duhon
G-Corey Maggette
F-Shane Battier
F-Carlos Boozer
C-Elton Brand
BENCH-Grant Hill, Mike Dunleavy, Luol Deng, J.J. Redick
Duke's front line is impressive, even though there aren't any true centers on it. This is a very good defensive team and has the ACC's longest tenured NBA player, Grant Hill, to lean on.
No. 3: NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELSG-Raymond Felton
G-Vince Carter
F-Marvin Williams
F-Antawn Jamison
C-Rasheed Wallace
BENCH-Brandan Haywood, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, Tyler Hansbrough
The Heels have an interesting makeup. They have guys that go back to the Dean Smith era and fresh faces that just stepped into the league. Sheed, Vince and Jamison have reached a higher altitude of individual success than anyone on Duke, but only Wallace has a title to show for it.
No. 4: GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS
G-Will Bynum
G-Jarrett Jack
F-Thad Young
F-Matt Harpring
C-Chris Bosh
BENCH-Javaris Crittenden, Anthony Morrow
Kind of a smaller unit with Bosh taking over the center spot. They are a bit light up front (that will change soon) and Harpring's career may be over. Everyone but Bosh is a role player ... if that.
No. 5: OTHER ACC SCHOOLS
G-Steve Blake (Maryland)
G-Roger Mason (Virginia)
F-Al Thornton (FSU)
F-Chris Wilcox (Maryland)
C-Sean Williams (Boston College)
BENCH-Joe Smith (Maryland), J.J. Hickson (NC State), Craig Smith (Boston College), Josh Powell (NC State)
I was actually shocked to see the relative weakness of the rest of the league. Joe Smith is easily the longest tenured player with most of the others being role guys. Neither Clemson nor Virginia Tech have a player on a current NBA roster (Miami has two, but they were from the Canes pre-ACC days). As an added extra, only the Bucks, Grizzlies and Thunder don't have an ACC player on their roster.
The one good thing is that the ACC is ready to throw more guys into the NBA. Ed Davis, John Henson and Derrick Favors are already high on GM's wish lists. Kyle Singler, Al-Farouq Aminu, Sylven Landesberg and Greivis Vasquez could/should find a place on somebody's roster. And future ACC players Harrison Barnes, Kyle Irving and Reggie Bullock should also be in the NBA someday.
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