Ranking players has always been one of the most enjoyable, and challenging, tasks I've had since becoming part of the team here at CFHInsider.com. And as bad as the ACC seems to be from a team standpoint, the talent and statistics aren't too shabby. Know what else wasn't too shabby? My preseason Top Ten and Sleeper lists. So, either the ACC is pretty predictable this season, or I'm getting better at my job. I'll let you guys decide which of those is the truer statement. On to our midseason rankings!
1) John Henson, F, North Carolina - It's still not the prettiest thing, but you can't argue Henson's offensive development. His overall numbers make him an easy choice at the top here: 14.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 3.2 blocks and 56.0% from the floor.
2) Harrison Barnes, F, North Carolina - Though I'm not convinced Barnes belongs this high, he's really coming on as a scorer and is shooting the ball tremendously better than he did a year ago. 17.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 steals; and he's shooting better than 50% from both the floor, and three-point range.
3) Travis McKie, F, Wake Forest - Scoring has increased 4.5 points from his freshman year, up to 17.5, good for fourth in the conference. His rebounding is down, but he's now hit 16 three-pointers on the year after hitting just 17 all of last year.
4) Mike Scott, F, Virginia - He's as safe as the come nationally, and just churns out stats. 16.5 points, 8.9 rebounds while hitting a ridiculous 59.6% of his shots.
5) Terrell Stoglin, G, Maryland - The league's leading scorer gets a spot this high simply because 21.2 points are hard to come by. A low shooting percentage (42.6%), and a lack of peripheral stats (3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and just four steals all season) keep him from being truly elite.
6) C.J. Harris, G, Wake Forest - Trailing only Stoglin in the ACC in scoring at 18.3 points, Harris is shooting much better at 52.7%. Mix in similar secondary numbers (3.5 boards, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals) and a probable ADP considerably lower than Stoglin, and you can argue Harris' value as being near the top of this conference.
7) Lorenzo Brown, G, North Carolina State - If he'd score consistently, he'd be one of the best kept secrets nationally. As it is, Brown is probably the ACC's most well rounded fantasy option, giving us 12.5 points, 4.7 boards, 6.7 assists, and 1.9 steals. Four category players don't grow on trees ... maybe Brown should be even higher on this list.
8) Kendall Marshall, G, North Carolina - Maybe I just have a man-crush on Marshall, because one category players shouldn't be ranked this high. When you lead the nation in that one category and that category happens to be the hardest to come by in college hoops, your value remains steady. What's not to like about 10.1 assists?
9) Tyler Zeller, F/C, North Carolina - Personally, I think Zeller has been somewhat disappointing this year, but he's quietly putting together another solid season. He's rebounding at a career-high clip (8.8) and scoring enough (14.3) to maintain his value. If he's center eligible for you, you can't be disappointed.
10) Erick Green, G, Virginia Tech - Green is the first player on this list to prove me wrong, as I didn't think he was capable of being a go-to guy. His stats are up across the board: 15.7 points, 3.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.6 steals will play for anybody.
11) Durand Scott, G, Miami - This may be a bit high for Scott, but he's found his shooting stroke recently, and if that can continue, he can easily finish the year as a top ten player. Currently averaging 13.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists, Scott has done so by shooting under 40% for much of the year. He's finally crept over that mark, and if he can climb up towards 45% by season's end, look out.
12) Richard Howell, F, North Carolina State - Hands down the biggest surprise of the season for me, Howell has quietly become one of the best rebounders in the nation. Averaging 12.2 points and 9.9 boards, Howell has four consecutive double-doubles, averaging 13.6 boards over his last five.
13) Alex Len, C, Maryland - Maybe a little high for a freshman who has played three games and does little more than dunk, but Len is an impact player who isn't close to peaking. He's put up 14 points, eight rebounds, 2.3 blocks and hit on 78.9% of his shots. I'm eager to see him in action against the Wolfpack tonight.
14) Glen Rice, Jr., G, Georgia Tech - 13.8 points and a nice 6.8 rebounds are solid numbers from a guard. 64.5% from the foul line, and games scoring zero, five and six points aren't going to cut it however. When Rice leads his team nightly, he's a top five player in the ACC, he just doesn't do it each time out.
15) Tanner Smith, G, Clemson - Though not overly consistent, Smith has been a very nice player this year, and is probably second to N.C. State's Lorenzo Brown as a four category player. Someone who likely went undrafted in most leagues is averaging 10.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 steals.
16) C.J. Leslie, F, North Carolina State - Leslie leads the Wolfpack in scoring (13.0) and is second on the team in rebounding (6.2,) but has tumbled down my rankings. He's also blocking a nice 2.3 shots nightly and is shooting 53.1% after hitting just 43.3% as a rookie. Everything about Leslie has been decent - I just think he is talented enough to be averaging 15-18 points and 8-10 rebounds.
17) Bernard James, F/C, Florida State - If only the old man could hit free throws. James is making a woeful 40.4% from the charity stripe, and rarely wows you with his lines nightly. But as a center eligible option, 9.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks will play for a lot of teams. You'll just have to pair him with someone who can make free throws, such as....
18) Seth Curry, G, Duke - His 89.6% shooting from the foul line isn't his only fantasy asset. He's scoring nearly 13 points a night, giving a reasonable 2.9 assists, 2.4 boards, 1.7 steals and nearly two made three-pointers to boot. More importantly, he looks like he is out of his early season slump that saw him score in single figures five straight times before Christmas.
19) Mason Plumlee, F/C, Duke - Plumlee is a younger Bernard James. 11.9 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.9 blocks are nice numbers from a center. 40.0% from the foul line is just awful. He is chipping in over two assists and a steal nightly, so if he didnt play for Duke, I'd probably overlook the free throw percentage, and bump him up three or four spaces.
20) Malcolm Grant, G, Miami - Grant makes the list because he can score, and give you three-pointers. But at 13.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists, you are likely to find better options for the same price, as the senior just doesn't give you enough production across the board. He's also scored in single figures in four of his last five. Uh oh.
21) Austin Rivers, G, Duke - I am aware that Rivers leads Duke in scoring as a freshman. But I still fail to see the value in his 14.7 points when it comes along with just 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.3 turnovers and 68.4% free throw shooting. Rivers isn't a bad player, but he's a considerably overhyped freshman who is taking some time to adjust to playing at the next level. What if I told you a freshman shooting guard in Chapel Hill was averaging 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds and had equally bad numbers across the rest of the board, but was playing a mere 12.9 minutes to Rivers 29.7. Does that help put into perspective how disappointing Rivers has been, especially if you drafted him in the first few rounds.
22) Kenny Kadji, C, Miami - I still don't believe what I'm seeing every time I watch Kadji. There is nothing pretty about his game, but the box score is consistently telling a different story. He's averaging 10.9 points, 5.6 boards and 1.9 blocks, but has been better since the return of frontcourt mate Reggie Johnson. Having scored at least 12 points in six of his last seven, Kadji is even mixing in an occasional three-pointer. On stats, Kadji should be ranked higher, but I just can't imagine it lasting.
23) Andre Young, G, Clemson - Young has been solid across the board, but he's just one of many countless guard options putting in reasonably similar stats. 13.2 points, 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals are nice numbers. But he's only scored 20 or more points once, and there is limited upside, making Young a dime a dozen type of player.
24) Reggie Johnson, C, Miami - Johnson's preseason knee injury looks like it's zapped his growth, as he looks like the same player he was a season ago. Ten points, seven boards, two assists and nearly two blocks aren't bad out of your center, but Johnson is still showing a prowess to foul. Another solid option in the middle, but Johnson is showing limited upside, and probably wasn't worth the wait during his nine-game absence.
25) Ian Miller, G, Florida State - Call this a speculative add to this list, but Miller looks terrific in his limited sample size. 13.8 points and two steals are nothing to scoff at coming off the 'Noles bench, and could see a slight uptick should he get a few extra minutes.
Just missed: Michael Snaer, G, Florida State, Devin Booker, F/C, Clemson