2022-23 Record: 16-17, 9-11 ACC (10th)
Coach: Earl Grant, 3rd season
Departures: Makai Ashton-Langord, G (Graduation)
DeMarr Langford, W (Transfer)
CJ Penha, F (Graduation)
TJ Bickerstaff, F (Transfer)
Arrivals: Claudell Harris Jr, G (Transfer from Charleston Southern)
Jayden Hastings, C (Freshman)
Fred Payne, G (Freshman)
Elijah Strong, F (Freshman)
Projected Starting Lineup
PG: Jaeden Zackery
SG: Claudell Harris
SF: Prince Aligbe
PF: Devin McGlockton
C: Quinten Post
Roster Breakdown
Boston College is going to revolve around center Quinten Post on both ends of the floor. Defensively, the 7 foot Dutchman will turn back shots, averaging a block a game in his two seasons at Boston College, and that doesn't include all the shots he alters with his length. Offensively, he paced the Eagles with 15.1 points a game, and he offers floor spacing in the front court, making 42.6% of his three point attempts from deep last year. However, he did miss 14 games last season, so keeping him healthy will be paramount to the Eagles success, and he could do with grabbing some more rebounds, as he only got 5.6 a game last season. Also returning will be Jaeden Zackery, who should start at point guard for the Eagles. He's the second leading returning scorer after putting up 10.7 points in 2022-23, and will bring stability in the backcourt in his third season with the team after attending junior college. He's shifty in the backcourt and a great finisher around the rim, plus he possesses good vision. They do lose his backcourt mates from last season, brothers Demarr Langford and Makai Ashton-Langford, and stepping into their shoes will be a mix of returners and newcomers. Claudell Harris Jr. is the biggest addition the Eagles made this offseason, coming over from Charleston Southern where he averaged 17.4 points a game last season. He's a really good scorer in the mid-range, and should provide some more scoring punch for the Eagles. Mason Madsen could also start, as the former Cincinnati Bearcat enters his second season with BC. He offers a little more size and defensive prowess next to Zackery, but either way, those 3 guards will all get a lot of minutes this season. Chas Kelley and Donald Hand are both entering their sophomore seasons in the backcourt and could also factor into the rotation. Kelley logged nearly 15 minutes a game last year, but only put up 2.9 points a game. He is a strong defender however, and he'll likely be the main backup to Zackery. Hand, meanwhile, was a four star recruit in the 2022 class, but tore his ACL in the second game of the season, and missed the entirety of last year. He may not be ready for the start of the season, but if he does get onto the court, he has a reputation as a big scorer, and could carve out a role. Freshman Fred Payne, ranked just outside of the top 200 on the 247 Composite, is another depth piece in this backcourt. Moving to the front court, Prince Aligbe is the guy to watch for as a potential breakout candidate. A former four star recruit out of Minnesota, Aligbe enters the year with no other natural small forwards on the roster, the closest thing would be Madsen playing there in some smaller lineups, and having played over 20 minutes a game last season. He's a great athlete, and has good instincts defensively as well as on the glass, so if his offensive game develops, he could become a name to know in the ACC. Reports from the Eagles preseason tour in Europe have been glowing on him as well, where he's been putting up double digits with regularity, so circle his name. Devin McGlockton, a redshirt sophomore, is probably starting at the four, and he put up some solid numbers in his first college season as well, and definitely showed flashes of real promises, including a 20 point, 11 rebound performance at Nebraska early last year. Behind the starting trio of Aligbe, McGlockton, and Post, there is an inexperienced trio of sophomore Armani Mighty and freshmen Jayden Hastings and Elijah Strong. Mighty appeared in 16 games last year but didn't make a big impact, and as an unheralded high school recruit, he was always viewed as more of a developmental prospect. Hastings and Strong will have a chance to earn minutes immediately as freshmen, and it will be intriguing to see who, if either guy, emerges. Hastings is a three star ranked 175th in the Composite Rankings, and played at IMG Academy last season. Meanwhile, Strong was a late riser in the class who signed with the Eagles in the spring. Both guys have reputations as good athletes with good feel around the rim, and having one, or both, be ready to handle the rigors of an ACC season will be key given the relative lack of depth in the front court.
My Thoughts
On paper, this isn't one of the stronger rosters in the ACC. Post is a capital d Dude at center, but he's surrounded by a bunch of guys that are better as role players, at least in my opinion. However, Earl Grant coaxed a lot out of his team last year, getting them to 9 ACC wins, and he could certainly do so again. I think there are a couple key factors with this team. The first is the ability to shoot it from deep. Post was the best shooter on the team last year as mentioned above. In second place, at least out of players who took over 15 attempts, was Jaeden Zackery, who made 32.3%. Aligbe made 27.1%. Madsen, 30.3%. Harris made 33.3%, although that was on high volume, so maybe his efficiency can go up for the Eagles. Still, this is a not a team that excels behind the three point line, and that will be key to allow teams to not clog the paint against Post and stop Zackery and Aligbe from driving and getting to the rim. The other big thing is going to be the play of some younger players. We've all watched young guys have growing pains, and the Eagles are relying on quite a few, especially up front. Aligbe and McGlockton are likely starters, and will have a large burden placed upon them this year. Both guys averaged 6.1 points a game last year, and I think one or both will need to jump into double digits for BC to look at a tournament berth. Chas Kelley looked like a promising piece defensively, but will need to prove he can score, or at least impact the game in other ways, to stay on the floor. And then Jayden Hastings and Elijah Strong are going to be the primary backups in the front court, and given that Post has struggled with injuries in his career, those two could end up getting a real baptism by fire. The X-factor on this team could be Donald Hand. He could solve the shooting woes and inject some instant offense, but we don't know how healthy he'll be this year after an ACL injury, and he again has no high major experience after only featuring in the first two games of the season. I think Earl Grant will coach them up, and they'll defend like hell and play with intensity, but outside of Quinten Post, who I think is an all-ACC caliber center, I'm just not sure the talent is there to finish in the top half of the league or break .500 in conference play.
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