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.

NOTRE DAME

The Irish are coming off a tremendous 2014-2015 season that brought unbelievable success and granted the chance for Jerian Grant to come back into the hopper, lead his squad at the one, and parlay it into being selected as a first rounder in the NBA Draft this past June. With the loss of the senior guard, look for Demetrius Jackson to break out onto the scene as one of the best all-around guards throughout America. However, backing Jackson up at the point guard spot is up for debate. Can Matt Farrell, a facilitating guard from Jersey, be enough in spot minutes for the Irish? That is in question, which leads me to Rex Pflueger (pictured above). While Matt Ryan should provide immediate production off the perimeter with the outside jumper, it is Pflueger that intrigues me the most within the 2015 recruiting class. The bouncy and entertaining 6-foot-5 guard from the prestigious Mater Dei program in California, has been known in past years as a scorer of the ball. However, he showed off the ability to be more of a primary ball handler as his senior summer and year went on and because of his size, quickness, and playmaking skills at any of the three spots in the backcourt, look for the west coast recruit to lend immediate energy and contributions in South Bend this winter and beyond.

PITTSBURGH

With the recent loss of Josh Newkirk as the Carolina native decided to make a last minute decision to transfer to Indiana, the opportunities are afloat in providing meaningful minutes behind senior James Robinson at the point guard spot. With that in mind, it would be easy to select Damon Wilson as the most important freshman for the Panthers. However, things are in a bit of a holding pattern as the Our Saviour New American product has yet to be cleared eligible by the NCAA for the upcoming year. If he can get the clearances to compete, expect for the 6-foot-3 guard to provide quality minutes at either guard spot out top. The Peach State native is more of a scorer than a distributor but he did make great strides on the ball in the last year of his prep career and with the opportunity to help Jamie Dixon in the backcourt, if cleared, Wilson should be able to have a solid career in the Zoo over the next few years.

SYRACUSE

While the talk of late has been about the loss of Moustapha Diagne for the Orange within its 2015 class due to eligibility concerns, all is not bad for Boeheim and company. With a year under the belt of lead guard Kaleb Joseph, the shooting powers of Trevor Cooney, and a load of potent power in the frontcourt with DeJuan Coleman, Michael Gbinije, and Tyler Roberson, who could be the big time breakout in the ACC this winter, expect for the biggest instant contributor to come by way of Malachi Richardson. The 6-foot-6 wing fits the playing style and cloth of what Jim Boeheim has been known for in past years and it seems that the high level wing should be able to help out from day one for the Orange. He had a solid senior year at Trenton Catholic in Jersey last year, and with the ability to display the deep threat capabilities, along with some scoring off the slice to the basket, Richardson should be quite the two-way weapon for the Orange, especially on the defensive side within the vaunted 2-3 zone.