Coach K was asked about this today in his presser.
His response, as reported by Jack Daly via Twitter:
The NCAA will sometimes tell you about situations to watch out for, but I can’t comment on that.
Shabazz would be a terrific addition. His visit was planned before the nebulous UCLA/Financial Advisor connection was reported. Coach K would never admit a known problem situation to Duke, however great his potential. Trust Coach K on this. He understands more than any one of us about the facts/risks involved. Let's welcome Shabazz with open arms and be patient. Shabazz or no Shabazz, we will be fine. We are DUKE.
Great point!
I think it's been more than hashed out how most feel about how Barnes treated his decision. Feel free to search "Straygator" and "Barnes". Barnes taught many on this board a serious lesson and many of us are a lot less apt to try and decipher what a teenager is thinking.
But for the record, Airowe isn't guessing...
Not exactly the type of performance I would've liked us to put on in front of Shabazz tonight. Especially on the heels of the epic comeback he witnessed at Phog Allen last weekend and the way he and his dad came away raving about everything Kansas has to offer.
one game won't change his mind...
"One POSSIBLE future. From your point of view... I don't know tech stuff.".... Kyle Reese
You don't think so? I do.
Seriously? We've been recruiting him for three years. This is the same Duke team that a month ago beat the same Carolina team on a last second shot in Chapel Hill. This is the same Duke team that still may end up with a 1 seed (with an ACC tournament championship) or a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. He attended the 82-50 Duke-Carolina game at Cameron two years ago.
Is there something untoward that happened tonight that would make him have second thoughts about Duke? Or, are you saying that he would have second thoughts because we lost the game? If the latter, that's laughable.
"I don't like them when they are eating my azaleas or rhododendrons or pansies." - Coach K
Absolutely agree 110% !!! If a kid is so immature to make such an important decision based on one 20 minute half (Duke more than acquitted itself in the second half) then I really can't be too impressed with him. But I do think some folks are underestimating the gray matter and thoughtfulness of these kids. The decision, broadly, will be based on the criteria he and his parents have long since established, which probably center around his comfort with the coach and prospective teammates, and where he'll get the best opportunity to develop and gain exposure for the next level. I have to believe that Duke falls pretty high on that scale. And, by the way, regardless of the outcome, that game and the surrounding emotion and hoopla was pretty spectacular. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that anyway??! (And if I'm the staff I'm right now pointing out to him how he could have made a difference in that game, and generally will make this team better next year.).
No, I'm not saying that. I'm saying that 17/18 year old kids, for the most part, live in the now. He leaves Kansas last week after that great game they had raving about them and what they can offer him. He then comes here this weekend, with a great atmosphere and everything you could want in a basketball program, and watches us get blown out. Recruiting has changed over the past few years due to the whole one and done situation. Instead of thinking about how the player can benefit the school, the players look at how the school can benefit them. I really hate one and done and Shabazz, to me, has it written all over him. Add that to all the potential trouble he may bring with him I really hope we're careful with him.
Although I agree that young people Shabazz's age do indeed live primarily in the here and now, such a shallow perspective will dominate one's school decision only if the decision is largely inconsequential. In other words, Shabazz's decision, given his high profile and potentially program-changing stature, is too complicated and has too many implications to come down to whim. If he were merely a three star prospect he might indeed choose his school simply based on where he had the most fun, or something along those lines. For Shabazz, probably not. Yes, he probably has a very sweet aftertaste from the Phog and perhaps a less sweet aftertaste from CIS, but that will be only one of many factors in his decision. As the previous poster indicated, he's also been to CIS on better days. Shabazz himself seems much more sophisticated than the typical high school senior, and his father seems much more sophisticated than the typical basketball dad. I highly doubt they'll make their decision based on the outcome of a single game. Plus, he isn't making his decision today. By the time he actually sits down to decide, those emotions will fade somewhat and what will dominate are the facts. Based on simple facts, I think Duke sits fairly prettily.