NC State Has Two of the ACC’s Top-10 Players by Evan Miya Ratings – and Three in the Top-20

NC State’s rise in the ACC standings hasn’t been fueled by one breakout star. According to Evan Miya’s Player Ratings, it’s being driven by multiple elite performers operating at a conference-leading level.

Senior point guard Quadir Copeland ranks as the 5th-best overall player in the ACC, sophomore sharpshooter Paul McNeil Jr. checks in at No. 10, and senior forward Darrion Williams ranks 17th overall.

What Evan Miya’s Player Rating Measures

Miya’s Bayesian Performance Rating (BPR) combines a player’s offensive and defensive impact into one number.

BPR is the sum of a player’s OBPR and DBPR and represents how many points per 100 possessions better than an average team a player makes his team while on the floor. Higher is better.

In short: it’s a holistic measure of value, not just box-score production.

Quadir Copeland: From Afterthought to ACC Elite

Did anyone project Quadir Copeland as a First Team All-ACC caliber player entering the season? Not a soul.

Yet here he is, ranked 5th overall in the ACC by Miya’s system and 33rd nationally.

Copeland ranks:

• 5th in Offensive Rating
• 12th in Defensive Rating

Beyond the advanced numbers, the production is undeniable. He leads the ACC in assists and continues to do it efficiently, averaging 13.7 points per game while shooting:

• 52.3% from the field
• 47.7% from three
• 77.1% from the free-throw line

Copeland isn’t just orchestrating the offense. He’s scoring it, spacing it, and controlling games at both ends. At this point, it’s no longer a hot streak. He’s simply one of the best guards in the conference.

Q is an NBA talent. Period.

Paul McNeil Jr.: A Leap Few Saw Coming

A Year-2 jump from Paul McNeil Jr. was expected. A Top-10 ACC player was not.

Miya’s ratings place McNeil Jr. 10th overall in the conference, and his offensive impact is staggering.

2nd in ACC in Offensive Rating

McNeil leads the league in three-point percentage at 42.9%, while also ranking near the top in makes. What often goes unnoticed is how clean his game is. His turnover percentage of 2.3% is the best in the ACC, a remarkable number for a high-usage perimeter scorer.

Elite shooting plus elite ball security is a rare combination. McNeil has quietly become one of the most efficient offensive weapons in the league.

Darrion Williams: Playing Like the Preseason Player of the Year Recently

While the spotlight has shifted to Copeland and McNeil, don’t forget Darrion Williams was the ACC Preseason player of the year.

While his ranking don’t reflect that accolade, Williams ranks 17th overall in the ACC, and recently has been playing like a Top-10 player. He’s scored 20+ points in three straight games and continues to lead NC State in scoring.

As the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, it was Williams who was expected to headline this list. Instead, he’s now part of a trio – and that may be what makes this Wolfpack team so dangerous.

The Bigger Picture

Having three Top-20 players and two in the Top-10 isn’t just a nice analytical note. It speaks to how NC State is winning.

This team isn’t surviving on a single star catching fire. It’s winning with efficiency, balance, and multiple players capable of controlling games.

NC State, Duke and Louisville are the only teams in the ACC with 3+ players ranked in the Top-20.

According to the numbers, this isn’t smoke. NC State is legitimately built like one of the ACC’s best teams – and Miya’s ratings are simply confirming what the eye test has been showing for weeks.

** Also of note: Almost NC State’s entire rotation sits within the Top-75 (Holloman is just outside as #76).