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Louisville’s Flory Bidunga, Duke’s John Blackwell and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, and Virginia’s Thijs De Ridder are among 20 players nationally recognized on the 2027 NABC Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
The ACC is bringing serious talent into the national men’s college basketball conversation.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced its 2027 Division I Player of the Year Preseason Watch List on Oct. 29, identifying 20 players to watch as the new season gets underway. Four players from the Atlantic Coast Conference made the list: Louisville forward Flory Bidunga, Duke guards and forwards John Blackwell and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, and Virginia forward Thijs De Ridder.
Each player arrives with a different story. Bidunga is an elite defensive presence transitioning to Louisville, Blackwell brings proven scoring production to Duke, Boumtje Boumtje enters college basketball with major international honors, and De Ridder returns to Virginia after earning All-ACC recognition.
The preseason watch list does not guarantee a finalist spot or predict the eventual winner. It signals that these players are already on the radar for one of college basketball’s major individual awards.
Meet the ACC Players on the Watch List
Flory Bidunga — Louisville Cardinals
Bidunga enters the season with a reputation as one of the nation’s most imposing defensive big men. After playing at Kansas, the forward now brings his shot-blocking and interior presence to Louisville.
In 2025-26, Bidunga averaged 13.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. He led the Big 12 in both total blocks, with 91, and blocks per game. His 64% field-goal percentage led the conference and ranked 10th nationally. He also recorded 13 double-doubles and earned first-team All-Big 12 and All-Defensive Team honors.
Bidunga was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award. His ability to protect the rim, rebound and finish efficiently gives Louisville a major presence around the basket.
Why to watch: Bidunga’s defensive impact is already nationally recognized. If he maintains that production while taking on a prominent role with the Cardinals, he could make a compelling case for broader national honors.
John Blackwell — Duke Blue Devils
Blackwell gives Duke an experienced scoring guard as the Blue Devils pursue another strong season.
He joins Duke after averaging 19.1 points per game at Wisconsin in 2025-26 and earning third-team All-Big Ten honors. His scoring production and experience make him an important addition to a Duke roster expected to compete for the ACC title.
Blackwell also earned a place on the 2026-27 Preseason All-ACC First Team, putting him among the conference’s leading players before the regular season begins. He received 12 votes in the ACC Preseason Player of the Year balloting, finishing second behind De Ridder.
Why to watch: Blackwell has already shown he can carry a substantial scoring load. His transition to Duke will put that ability on a bigger stage, with expectations high for the Blue Devils and their backcourt.
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje — Duke Blue Devils
Boumtje Boumtje is the newcomer in this group, but his international résumé has already attracted attention.
The 7-foot-2 forward-center was named Most Valuable Player at both the 2026 adidas NextGen EuroLeague Finals and the 2026 FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup. At the U17 World Cup, he helped the United States win gold while averaging 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He also helped lead U18 FC Barcelona to the NextGen championship.
Those performances earned him recognition as the ACC’s Preseason Rookie of the Year. He was also named to the Preseason All-ACC Second Team, joining established college players on the conference’s preseason honor roll.
Why to watch: Boumtje Boumtje has already demonstrated that he can score, rebound and protect the rim against high-level competition. The next step is translating those skills into the college game, where his size and international experience could make him an intriguing player to follow.
Thijs De Ridder — Virginia Cavaliers
De Ridder enters the season as one of the ACC’s most accomplished returning players and the conference’s Preseason Player of the Year.
The Virginia forward averaged 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in 2025-26, leading the Cavaliers in both categories. He shot 50.8% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range, reached double figures in 28 games and scored at least 20 points in 12 contests.
De Ridder earned first-team All-ACC honors and was the unanimous selection to the 2026-27 Preseason All-ACC Team. He is Virginia’s first Preseason ACC Player of the Year since Malcolm Brogdon received the recognition ahead of the 2015-16 season.
His combination of size, scoring touch and rebounding makes him a focal point for a Virginia team that finished second in the ACC standings last season.
Why to watch: De Ridder has already proved he can produce in the ACC, and the conference has identified him as its leading preseason player. His NABC watch-list selection adds national recognition to those expectations.
What Is the NABC Player of the Year Award?
The NABC Division I Player of the Year Award is an annual honor presented by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. It has been awarded every season since 1974-75 and is distinctive because the winner is selected through a nationwide vote of Division I men’s basketball head coaches. The 2027 recipient is scheduled to be announced during the week of the 2027 Men’s Final Four.
Here is how to understand the process:
- The preseason watch list: A starting group of players receiving national attention before the season unfolds.
- The regular season: Players build their cases through individual production, consistency and performance for their teams.
- The final selection: Division I head coaches vote for the award winner at the conclusion of the regular season.
- The announcement: The 2027 winner will be revealed during Final Four week.
A spot on the watch list is an early distinction, not a guarantee of winning. Players still need to deliver throughout the season to strengthen their candidacy.
What It Means for the ACC
Four players from three ACC programs give the conference representation on a 20-player national list. Duke has two selections, while Louisville and Virginia each have one.
The selections also reflect three different stages of a college basketball career: Blackwell brings proven scoring from another Division I program, Bidunga arrives with major defensive credentials, De Ridder returns as an established conference star, and Boumtje Boumtje enters his first college season after international success.
For the ACC, those storylines offer plenty to follow as the conference race develops. Duke enters the season as the preseason favorite, while Virginia and Louisville are also expected to contend near the top of the league.
The watch list is only the beginning. The season will determine which players turn preseason recognition into sustained national award contention — and whether the ACC’s representatives can remain in the conversation when the NABC prepares to select its winner.
Source attribution: National Association of Basketball Coaches; official athletics releases from Louisville and Virginia; Atlantic Coast Conference preseason men’s basketball announcement.
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