Keeping It Heel
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ACC Basketball: Preseason All-ACC team

By Brandon Griffin

Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) celebrates after beating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) and North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) celebrates after beating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) celebrates beating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II (2) celebrates beating the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Point Guard

Much like Deng, Joel Berry immediately jumped on this list when he decided to return to school for his senior season. Berry is a solid dark horse pick for ACC Player of the Year and if not for the return of the last guy, he’d be on the top of this list.

Berry is also on the short list for preseason National Player of the Year after his MOP performance on two bad ankles in leading the Tar Heels through the Final Four and to the promised land.

If he were to earn that honor, he’d join just eight other players in having his number retired as well as cementing his place as the best point guard and second best player under Roy Williams.

If he did all that and led the Tar Heels to a second consecutive national title, he might even surpass Tyler Hansbrough as the best player during the Williams era at UNC. He would also likely garner some real NBA draft buzz as well.

Other Candidates: Bryant Crawford (Wake Forest) and Matt Farrell (Notre Dame)

Both Crawford and Farrell are double-digit scorers that their teams will need to step up in order to succeed. Crawford is the leading scorer for a Deacons team that lost John Collins and is looking to go to back-to-back NCAA tournaments.

Mar 18, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) tries to drive against West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jevon Carter (2) in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2017; Buffalo, NY, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Matt Farrell (5) tries to drive against West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jevon Carter (2) in the first half during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Meanwhile, Farrell received votes for All-ACC and Most Improved Player last season. He returns as the second-leading scorer for the Irish and their top assist man. Former Irish guards Demetrius Jackson and Jerian Grant had big final seasons for the Irish. Farrell will be looking to join that group.

Freshman Hopeful: Trevon Duval (Duke)

To be fair, I could’ve picked a Duke freshman for almost every position, but what’s the fun in that? Duval is not the best freshmen Duke has got this season, but he is the most important.

Duval allows Allen to play off the ball and gives the Blue Devils their best playmaker since Tyus Jones was running the show in Durham.

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