Last week we unveiled what could be for the ACC when it comes to the 2016 recruiting class. In our next five part series, while things still play out within the respective senior class of prospects on the recruiting front, we will look at what can be expected this coming season on the hardwood for each program and the most important freshman within last year’s 2015 recruiting crop.

There is a bevy of elite, top shelf talent coming into the ACC this fall and also many others that could be labeled as late-bloomers. Programs like UNC, Duke, Louisville, and Syracuse are expected to land 5-star recruits, however, we will go one by one, and select the most important freshman that will be leaned upon most heavily during their first-year campaign, regardless of his ranking and based more on his progressing package of ball skills and opportunity at hand to leave an immediate impact this winter.

VIRGINIA

There aren’t many holes with Virginia this year and while losing Justin Anderson to the NBA will be a tough void to fill, the lone freshman heading to Charlottesville is already making believers within the program. Having lost nearly 30 pounds already since getting onto campus earlier this summer, Jarred Reuter is a below the rim type who can be leaned upon in half-court scenarios whenever a basket is needed from the low-post. He has quality footwork with his back to the rim, sports a tremendous feel for the game, and the most underrated portion of his skillset is in passing the ball. The Brewster Academy grad can pick you apart from 15-feet on down and whenever help defense is provided, Reuter can rip the opposing bunch apart with dishes from all across the floor. He might not be receive  a ton of time early and it is a little difficult to come in and provide immediate numbers as a freshman within Tony Bennett’s system, yet by time the coldest months come around, Reuter could have a say in helping his Wahoos pull out some hard-fought wins in crunch time situations. 

VIRGINIA TECH

Buzz Williams and his crew has done a remarkable job of bringing in some prime talent to Blacksburg since taking over the ACC program over a year ago. While it didn’t lead to on-court success last season, Williams has laid down the culture that made for great success at his previous stop at Marquette. With an impressive freshman class coming in, headlined by Chris Clarke of Cape Henry Collegiate in Virginia, it would seem that the 757 product might be the most important piece for the Hokies this year within the 2015 recruiting class. Think again. With a loaded crop of talented guards and wings and while Clarke should still produce a good amount, look down low at Kerry Blackshear. A native of the Sunshine State, the 6-foot-10 center is great out of the high post, can score with counters on the block, and has continued to grow in size and height since stepping onto campus. He does have to get tougher but expect for Williams’ annual boot camp in the coming weeks to take things up a notch with Blackshear and make the big fella an immediate producer for years to come for the burgundy and orange.

WAKE FOREST

The cupboard is beginning to fill up for Danny Manning and his squad down in Winston-Salem and with their first full recruiting class in tow, it would seem that the Demon Deacons are headed in the right direction with things. While the Deacs will lean heavily on the senior combo of Devin Thomas and Codi Miller-McIntyre this year, look for freshman year Bryant Crawford to leave a large fingerprint on the program. Manning is welcoming in two potential highly effective big men in Doral Moore and John Collins, yet the winning background out of Crawford, in having won a number of games for his Gonzaga College High bunch and his Team Takeover squad on the travel circuit, should enable for a few successful campaigns and solid production out of the DMV recruit. Just last week, Madison Jones was dismissed from the team and now with an even greater opportunity to help out, it would seem Crawford has everything it would take in helping out the ACC squad immediately by way of his scoring at the lid, facilitating off the bounce, and on-ball techniques on the defensive end of the court.