GREENSBORO, N.C. – Freshmen Elizabeth Balogun and Liz Dixon were named to the preseason ACC Newcomer Watch List by the league’s head coaches as announced by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday. Balogun was also tabbed to the Newcomer Watch List by the Blue Ribbon Panel.
A pair of McDonald’s All-Americans, Balogun and Dixon were two members of the 7th-ranked recruiting class for Georgia Tech. The pair also competed in the Jordan Brand Classic game in Brooklyn, N.Y., in April. Balogun, the USA Today Tennessee Player of the Year, garnered second team Naismith Trophy National High School All-American Team accolades, while Dixon was tabbed honorable mention.
In addition to announcing the preseason All-ACC Team, preseason Player of the Year and Newcomer Watch List, the league released the predicted order of finish from both the Blue Ribbon Panel and head coaches. Georgia Tech was selected to finish ninth by the head coaches and 10th by the Blue Ribbon Panel.
The defending National Champion, Notre Dame was the preseason favorite by both the Blue Ribbon Panel and head coaches. Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame) was picked as the preseason Player of the Year.
Blue Ribbon Panel
Predicted Order of Finish
1.Notre Dame (59) 927
2. Louisville (3) 870
3. Syracuse 730
4. NC State 671
5. Duke 652
6. Miami 577
7. Florida State 572
8. North Carolina 462
9. Virginia 450
10. Georgia Tech 432
11. Virginia Tech 424
12. Wake Forest 269
13. Pittsburgh 157
14. Boston College 126
15. Clemson 121
Preseason All-ACC Team
Asia Durr, Sr., G, Louisville
Janelle Bailey, So., F, North Carolina
Paris Kea, Sr., G, North Carolina
Marina Mabrey, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Arike Ogunbowale, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Jessica Shepard, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Brianna Turner, Gr., F, Notre Dame
Tiana Mangakahia, Jr., G, Syracuse
Taylor Emery, Sr., G, Virginia Tech
Elisa Penna, Jr., G/F, Wake Forest
Newcomer Watch List
Kiah Gillespie, R-Jr., F, Florida State
Elizabeth Balogun, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Beatirce Mompremier, R-Jr., F, Miami
Jordan Nixon, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Emily Engstler, Fr., G/F, Syracuse
Preseason Player of the Year: Arike Ogunbowale, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Coaches
Predicted Order of Finish
1.Notre Dame (15) 225
2. Louisville 210
3. Syracuse 178
4. NC State 165
5. Miami 160
6. Duke 141
7. North Carolina 127
8. Florida State 124
9. Georgia Tech 112
10. Virginia Tech 108
11. Virginia 95
12. Wake Forest 57
13. Pittsburgh 41
14. Clemson 32
15. Boston College 25
Preseason All-ACC Team
Asia Durr, Sr., G, Louisville
Janelle Bailey, So., F, North Carolina
Paris Kea, Sr., G, North Carolina
Marina Mabrey, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Arike Ogunbowale, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Jessica Shepard, Sr., F, Notre Dame
Brianna Turner, Gr., F, Notre Dame
Tiana Mangakahia, Jr., G, Syracuse
Taylor Emery, Sr., G, Virginia Tech
Elisa Penna, Jr., G/F, Wake Forest
Preseason Player of the Year: Arike Ogunbowale, Sr., G, Notre Dame
Newcomer Watch List
Elizabeth Balogun, Fr., G, Georgia Tech
Elizabeth Dixon, Fr., F, Georgia Tech
Beatirce Mompremier, R-Jr., F, Miami
Jordan Nixon, Fr., G, Notre Dame
Emily Engstler, Fr., G/F, Syracuse
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