Player of the Week
Thijs de Ridder, Virginia
De Ridder looked the best he has all season this past week, shooting at a highly efficient clip while scoring a season-high 32 points. From the moment he logged his first minutes with the Cavaliers, it was clear he would be a focal point of the scouting report and a consistent scoring threat. He has firmly established himself as Virginia’s go-to option and has been extremely reliable whenever the offense needs a bucket. As the clear No. 1 option, De Ridder has lived up to Ryan Odom’s expectations, currently averaging 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. Despite being 23 years old and not draft eligible, his level of production and consistency still warrant national recognition. When he is scoring the ball, as he did throughout this week, De Ridder looks like not just one of the top players in the ACC, but one of the most impactful scorers in the country.
Who’s Hot
NC State Wolfpack
NC State has finally put the pieces together and is firing on all cylinders, riding a four-game win streak. The trio of Paul McNeil Jr., Ven-Allen Lubin, and Darrion Williams has consistently put points on the board while controlling the glass. Williams recorded back-to-back 20-plus point performances, while McNeil exploded for 28 points against Wake Forest. The Wolfpack have become one of the most effective offensive teams in the conference by sharing the ball, recording 11 more assists across wins over Wake Forest and Syracuse. They now rank inside the top 50 nationally in both assist percentage and assists per game. Quadir Copeland continues to steady the offense, averaging 6.5 assists per game and serving as the engine that gets everyone involved. This is a dangerous group that appears to be peaking at exactly the right time.
Chauncey Wiggins, Florida State
Wiggins has been inconsistent for much of the season, but he finally looks like the spot-up shooter Florida State has been searching for. In the Seminoles’ two wins this past week, he scored 18 points against California before following it up with 23 points against Stanford. He moves exceptionally well without the ball and does a strong job creating clean looks for himself, particularly against the Cardinal, where his off-ball activity helped him find rhythm early. While his calling card remains his perimeter shooting, Wiggins has also shown flashes of physicality, using his body to finish near the rim when defenders overplay the shot. He shot just under 50 percent from three over the two games and went 7-of-9 from the field against California. If this stretch continues, league-wide buzz around his name will start to grow.
Who’s Not
Stanford Cardinal
Stanford now sits at 3–6 in conference play and is in danger of slipping into the bottom tier of the league. The season-ending injury to Chisom Okpara has been a massive blow, leaving the Cardinal without a true secondary scoring option. That responsibility has fallen almost entirely on Ebuka Okorie, who is averaging 21.8 points per game but has been forced to carry a heavy offensive load. Stanford is currently riding a four-game losing streak against Florida State, Miami, California, and Duke. While the stretch was challenging, securing at least one win felt attainable. Defensively, the Cardinal have allowed an average of 81.25 points per game over that span and have struggled mightily in the paint, showing little discipline on that end. Kyle Smith will need a win in one of the next two games against Clemson or Georgia Tech to stop the slide.
Neoklis Avdalas, Virginia Tech
Several mock drafts project Avdalas as a first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft, but recent performances have raised legitimate concerns. Over two games, he averaged 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists while shooting a combined 4-of-23 from the field, including a 3-of-15 outing followed by a 1-of-8 performance in a loss to Duke. During that stretch, he struggled with decision-making, was careless with the ball, and was late on multiple defensive rotations. Avdalas is still young and clearly talented, and there have been stretches this season where he has looked every bit like a first-round caliber prospect. However, he is currently in a slump, one that mirrors earlier stretches this year. History suggests he often rebounds with strong play after downturns, and there’s little doubt he will do so again, but consistency remains the key variable in his evaluation.
Top 5 Transfers
1. Henri Veesaar, North Carolina
Veesaar has been dominant on both ends of the floor and has been the ideal complement to star freshman Caleb Wilson. He is averaging 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, anchoring the Tar Heels defensively while providing consistent interior scoring. North Carolina’s success this season would look very different without his presence.
2. Ryan Conwell, Louisville
Conwell has been a scoring machine and exactly what the Cardinals hoped for when they landed him in the portal. Quick, physical, and efficient, he can score at all three levels and uses his size well for a guard. His 19.1 points per game underscore why he was among the most coveted guards available.
3. Jaron Pierre, SMU
Now at his third school, Pierre has found the perfect fit with the Mustangs. He can stretch the floor, finish explosively at the rim, and contribute on the glass. Averaging 17.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, Pierre has been one of the most reliable guards in the AAC.
4. Malik Reneau, Miami
Questions surrounded Reneau’s decision to leave Indiana, but midway through the season, the answer is clear. He has become Miami’s primary offensive option, handling the ball frequently and creating consistent scoring pressure. He is averaging a career-high 19.9 points, along with 6.4 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game.
5. Tre Donaldson, Miami
Donaldson has embodied the definition of a true point guard, averaging 6.1 assists per game while constantly looking to create opportunities for teammates. He’s also an efficient scorer, averaging 16.0 points per game, and has been a major reason for Miami’s continued success.