Interesting point
Originally Posted by
roywhite
Okay, let's consider this.
Is Austin Rivers really a crucial or even important recruit for Duke?
1. He's made it pretty clear that he plans on playing college basketball for one year only.
2. Without him in the 2011-12 season, wouldn't Duke still have a strong/very strong backcourt?
With Duke's current roster and commitments, the team looks like it would still be strong even if neither Austin or Quincy commits.
2011-12 tentative roster
Sr. Miles Plumlee
Jr. Mason Plumlee?
Jr. Kelly
Soph. Hairston
Fresh. Adams
Fresh. Gbinije
Jr. Curry
Jr. Dawkins
Soph. Thornton
Soph. Irving?
Even without Irving or Mason, that squad looks potentially strong. This is, of course, assuming improvement from everyone. There is certainly the possibility that Kyrie and/or Mason could be playing, as well as another freshman or two, such as Quin Cook and/or Marshall Plumlee if we didn't land Q or Austin. All in all, I would say that Austin is not a crucial recruit for Duke, but he is so talented that he could make a big impact, even if it was only for a year.
“Those two kids, they’re champions,” Krzyzewski said of his senior leaders. “They’re trying to teach the other kids how to become that, and it’s a long road to become that.”