In the last two NBA drafts, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) players made a notable impact, contributing to 16.7 percent of the draftees. This translates to 20 players out of 120 total selections over the two-year period. In June 2023, 12 ACC players were drafted, comprising 20 percent of the 60 players selected, an increase from 13.3 percent in June 2022 when only eight ACC players were chosen.
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Duke University was particularly prominent, with eight of the total 20 ACC draftees, or 40 percent. Noteworthy top-10 picks from Duke include Cameron Boozer (third in 2026), Cooper Flagg (first), Kon Knueppel (fourth), and Khaman Maluach (tenth) from the 2025 draft. Since Jon Scheyer took over as head coach in 2022, seven Duke players have been taken in the first round.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) followed with two first-round selections, including Caleb Wilson (fourth in 2026) and Drake Powell (22nd in 2025). Wilson's participation in a practice while recovering from injury became a point of controversy that may have contributed to Hubert Davis's firing.
Rebuilt Louisville produced the sixth overall pick in 2026, Mikel Brown Jr., known for his injury struggles. Another first-round pick was Ebuka Okorie, who attended Stanford, surprising some fans as Stanford's successful tenure in the ACC has gained attention.
Among the success stories, Maxime Raynaud, Stanford's standout in 2025, was drafted in the second round by Sacramento, signing a three-year, $5.95 million contract and starting 56 games as a rookie.
In terms of team performances, only six schools in the ACC recorded 20 or more wins in each of the past two seasons: Clemson, Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, SMU, and Stanford. However, Stanford faced challenges with attendance, registering the lowest average attendance in the ACC with 3,899 fans per game in the previous year.