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.

FLORIDA STATE

Where Leonard Hamilton has been known for his length across the board and jumbo guards on the perimeter, a variety of scoring weapons has been far and in-between. However, this year should bring something different to Tallahassee where alongside Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Devin Bookert, a freshman wing with great size and toughness to him might make a name for himself in a short stint before heading to the NBA. A graduate of the prestigious Oak Hill Academy program in Virginia, yet a native of Florida, Dwayne Bacon has all of the physical tangibles to be as good as he wants to be. With a college-ready body and a potent scorer prowess to him, the 6-foot-6 wing is capable of taking over games for prolonged spurts on the hardwood and because of it, can be a weapon that Leonard Hamilton hasn’t had at his fingertips for some time now. The incoming class is very, very talented and the 2016 one could even top it, but it would seem that Bacon might be the guy to put the Noles over the top and keep the ACC program in play during the most crucial of moments during the dog days of the season come February and March.

GEORGIA TECH

While the Yellow Jackets have not had the most successful of campaigns in past years, Georgia Tech enters the 2015-2016 season with a bevy of talented and effective big men. They only needed and received one member in the 2015 class and with it, Sylvester Ogbonda called the Atlanta-based program home. Standing at 6-foot-10 and with mobility to him on rim-run situations and in loose ball plays around the basket, Ogbonda should be someone that grows into a bigger role as his days progress at Georgia Tech. However, it may be hard for the National Christian center to get minutes early on in backing up the likes of Ben Lammers, Nick Jacobs, and Charles Mitchell. Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the use of a redshirt being taken with Ogbonda yet regardless, the big man should be able to help out in due time with his rim protecting skills, motor on the break, and added size and length in deterring driving lanes in the half-court setting.

LOUISVILLE

While the Cards have added some transfers and incoming freshmen talent to its roster for the upcoming year, and with another year under the belts of the likes of Mangok Mathiang, Chinanu Onuaku, Anas Mahmoud, and Jaylen Johnson within the interior, it would seem that the biggest factor within the 2015 class this winter would be an in-state talent. Raymond Spalding, standing 6-foot-10 and graced with a polished face-up game, super talent levels, and a ton of long term abilities in the frontcourt, word is spreading that the local talent can be special. There is a lot of strength and muscle down low with Mathiang and Onuaku, along with length and fluidity to Johnson and Mahmoud, however the Trinity High product combines bits and pieces of all four and by conference time, don’t be surprised to see Spalding showing off his rare talent and abilities as a constant producer for Pitino and his squad within the ‘Ville.