DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — For the 10th time in the last 13th seasons, Duke men’s basketball has been picked to finish the season atop the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.
On Tuesday, the ACC 2025-2026 preseason poll and accolades for basketball were revealed. On the men’s side, the Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils were voted to finish first, followed by Louisville in second and North Carolina third. NC State, under new head coach Will Wade, was picked to finish fourth, and Wolfpack transfer Darrion Williams was voted the league’s preseason Player of the Year.
Incoming Duke freshman Cameron Boozer, the son of former Blue Devils star Carlos Boozer and the current Gatorade Male Player of the Year, was voted preseason Rookie of the Year and also earned a spot on the preseason All-ACC First Team. Another Blue Devil, Isaiah Evans, was voted onto the preseason All-ACC Second Team.
Joining Evans on the All-ACC Second Team is UNC’s Caleb Wilson. The freshman is the lone Tar Heels representative to earn individual preseason accolades.
NC State also only has one player on ACC preseason lists. In addition to being the favorite to win Player of the Year, Williams was voted on the All-ACC First Team.
The 2025-2026 regular season begins on Monday, Nov. 3. Preseason honors were voted on by members of the media.
ACC men’s basketball 2025-2026 preseason poll
| Predicted finish | Program (first place votes) | Points |
| 1. | Duke (34) | 866 |
| 2. | Louisville (15) | 842 |
| 3. | North Carolina | 741 |
| 4. | NC State | 710 |
| 5. | Virginia | 623 |
| 6. | SMU | 616 |
| 7. | Clemson | 510 |
| 8. | Miami | 500 |
| 9. | Syracuse | 489 |
| 10. | Notre Dame | 477 |
| 11. | Wake Forest | 412 |
| 12. | Virginia Tech | 355 |
| 13. | Georgia Tech | 315 |
| 14. | Pitt | 301 |
| 15. | Florida State | 221 |
| 16. | California | 156 |
| 17. | Stanford | 138 |
| 18. | Boston College | 107 |