2017 Basketball Recruiting Thread

[WVDUKEFAN]

That was two points. What else can he do?

This.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HWDHCNvY31c

[SkyBrickey]

That's the first time I've watched a Duval mix. Thanks for linking. A couple of thoughts.

I know it's a "best of" but I've still never seen handles like that on a kid in high school. Can he break down defenses like that next year without a lot of turnovers? If so, Kennard, Jackson, Carter, Bolden, ... will be feasting on open looks.

From all that I've read about him, I expected to see a broken jump shot, but his form is actually not too bad. Good rotation on the ball. It looks to me like a shot that will get a lot more consistent with repetition. Hey, when you can get to the rim and dunk on people with such ease, why develop a great jump shot??

[Steven43]

I know it's a "best of" but I've still never seen handles like that on a kid in high school. Can he break down defenses like that next year without a lot of turnovers? If so, Kennard, Jackson, Carter, Bolden, ... will be feasting on open looks

Now wait just a minute, pal. You believe Duval's handle is better than that of the young man who goes by the name Kyrie? As an aside he wore jersey no. 1 at Duke, and had he not gotten injured Coach and the boys would have brought home national championship number five to Durham in April 2011.

Also, do you have inside info of the return of the great Luke Kennard? I pray that you do. One more season of Luke in a Blue Devils uniform would make my year. Would also love to see Bolden and Jackson return. Can you even imagine a team with Kennard, Jackson, Bolden, Jeter, Carter, DeLaurier, Vrankovic, White, O'Connell, Knox, Bamba, and Duvall? And maybe even Allen and Giles, too? How many scholarship athletes can Duke Basketball have in a given season?

Yes, yes, that list is highly improbable, I know. Probably even impossible because Bamba likely won't come if either Giles or Bolden returns, much less both. But still, just look at those names. The possibilities boggle the mind.

[jv001]

Now wait just a minute, pal. You believe Duval's handle is better than that of the young man who goes by the name Kyrie? As an aside he wore jersey no. 1 at Duke, and had he not gotten injured Coach and the boys would have brought home national championship number five to Durham in April 2011.

Also, do you have inside info of the return of the great Luke Kennard? I pray that you do. One more season of Luke in a Blue Devils uniform would make my year. Would also love to see Bolden and Jackson return. Can you even imagine a team with Kennard, Jackson, Bolden, Jeter, Carter, DeLaurier, Vrankovic, White, O'Connell, Knox, Bamba, and Duvall? And maybe even Allen and Giles, too? How many scholarship athletes can Duke Basketball have in a given season?

Yes, yes, that list is highly improbable, I know. Probably even impossible because Bamba likely won't come if either Giles or Bolden returns, much less both. But still, just look at those names. The possibilities boggle the mind.

Plus Gary Trent. GoDuke!

[CDu]

Now wait just a minute, pal. You believe Duval's handle is better than that of the young man who goes by the name Kyrie? As an aside he wore jersey no. 1 at Duke, and had he not gotten injured Coach and the boys would have brought home national championship number five to Durham in April 2011.

Also, do you have inside info of the return of the great Luke Kennard? I pray that you do. One more season of Luke in a Blue Devils uniform would make my year. Would also love to see Bolden and Jackson return. Can you even imagine a team with Kennard, Jackson, Bolden, Jeter, Carter, DeLaurier, Vrankovic, White, O'Connell, Knox, Bamba, and Duvall? And maybe even Allen and Giles, too? How many scholarship athletes can Duke Basketball have in a given season?

Yes, yes, that list is highly improbable, I know. Probably even impossible because Bamba likely won't come if either Giles or Bolden returns, much less both. But still, just look at those names. The possibilities boggle the mind.

There is no reason to imagine that scenario. No way Bamba comes if Bolden and Giles are both back. Heck, we would have a logjam at C with Carter, Bolden, and Jeter as is.

[budwom]

There is no reason to imagine that scenario. No way Bamba comes if Bolden and Giles are both back. Heck, we would have a logjam at C with Carter, Bolden, and Jeter as is.

yeah, I suspect even Bolden alone would preclude Bamba, who is waiting to make his decision for good reason (to see what rosters look like, among other things).

[duke4ever19]

That was two points. What else can he do?

Are you serious?? Wow. Google is your friend. Specifically youtube. Look him up.


For the rest of you who know who Duvall is, this guy's explosiveness from the point guard position can just open everything up. We gotta get this guy.

[Troublemaker]

Duval's blog for USA Today

Excerpts:

After that my parents and I talked to Coach K and Coach Capel and all of the coaches and they really broke down how I would fit in there and their plans for me.

I could tell that they were genuine and they meant what they were saying. It’s attractive when I have Coach K telling me that I’m gonna have the keys in my hand.

--------------

The Duke-Carolina game is really big for basketball.

Just to be in that environment was big for me. It definitely lived up to the hype. The whole bottom section of fans is all students. They stood up the whole time and they were really creative.

They kept chanting for me and asking me to come and sit with them, but I just smiled! I wanted to go, but that might’ve been an automatic commitment right there! Haha!

[DavidBenAkiva]

Duval's blog for USA Today

Excerpts:

After that my parents and I talked to Coach K and Coach Capel and all of the coaches and they really broke down how I would fit in there and their plans for me.

I could tell that they were genuine and they meant what they were saying. It’s attractive when I have Coach K telling me that I’m gonna have the keys in my hand.

--------------

The Duke-Carolina game is really big for basketball.

Just to be in that environment was big for me. It definitely lived up to the hype. The whole bottom section of fans is all students. They stood up the whole time and they were really creative.

They kept chanting for me and asking me to come and sit with them, but I just smiled! I wanted to go, but that might’ve been an automatic commitment right there! Haha!

Thanks for posting this, Troublemaker! I enjoyed reading a lot of the quotes from Duval. He seems to have really enjoyed his visit to Duke. He wrote about how Allen Fieldhouse was loud and that the fans were into the game. Here's what he had to say about his time at the Duke-UNC game:

Before the game I saw all of the fans camping out, which was pretty crazy!

The game was lit!

The Duke-Carolina game is really big for basketball.

Just to be in that environment was big for me. It definitely lived up to the hype. The whole bottom section of fans is all students. They stood up the whole time and they were really creative.

They kept chanting for me and asking me to come and sit with them, but I just smiled! I wanted to go, but that might’ve been an automatic commitment right there! Haha!

They were having fun!

Duke ended up winning the game so after the game the campus was lit! We had a good time hanging out that night.

I also noted that Duval indicated that he will probably not be committing before the McDonald's All-American game. That game takes place Wednesday, March 29th. It certainly sounds like he will be waiting to see who stays and goes from his final five teams but that Duke is in a great spot.

[flyingdutchdevil]

Duval's blog for USA Today

Excerpts:

After that my parents and I talked to Coach K and Coach Capel and all of the coaches and they really broke down how I would fit in there and their plans for me.

I could tell that they were genuine and they meant what they were saying. It’s attractive when I have Coach K telling me that I’m gonna have the keys in my hand.

--------------

The Duke-Carolina game is really big for basketball.

Just to be in that environment was big for me. It definitely lived up to the hype. The whole bottom section of fans is all students. They stood up the whole time and they were really creative.

They kept chanting for me and asking me to come and sit with them, but I just smiled! I wanted to go, but that might’ve been an automatic commitment right there! Haha!

I like this dude. He is crazy athletic, and really reminds me of Dennis Smith.

What is interesting to watch is how our class unfolds. IMO, there is no way in hell that Carter, Knox, and Bamba all come to Duke next year. That would mean that Knox has to play the 3 or one of those players sits. Not happening. Knox, IMO, is the perfect Duke 4: big, has a handle, loves the 3 pt shot. He's Jabari-light. And Bamba has the defensive chops to anchor what looks to be a shaky Duke defense.

Right now, I am confident that Jeter, Jackson, Carter, and Trent Jr will be part of the rotation next year, barring no transfers or decommitments. I am interested to see how Vrank, Delaurier, and White progress and whether they can be rotation players next year. After that, there are so many questions, especially surrounding Kennard, Giles, and Bolden. IMO, I think all three are gone. If all three bolt, I think we get Knox. If Giles or Bolden stay, we don't.

Duval is really interesting, because if Kennard stays, there would be a log-jam in the backcourt with 4 extremely talented offensive players. But I don't see how Duval doesn't play given that he's a natural 1.

Regardless, looking forward to how the class shapes up. It could be amazing offensively with all the pieces.

[flyingdutchdevil]

I also noted that Duval indicated that he will probably not be committing before the McDonald's All-American game. That game takes place Wednesday, March 29th. It certainly sounds like he will be waiting to see who stays and goes from his final five teams but that Duke is in a great spot.

I take this to mean that Kansas is a big threat to Duke. Unlike Kansas, Duke doesn't have a 1 next year on the roster. Kansas has Graham, a really good PG, and Malik Newman, who is more of a 2 than a 1. If Graham stays, it indicates that Self wants to hand over the keys to Graham. If he leaves, it may open the door to Duval.

I do not see any scenario where Duval doesn't get the keys to the Duke truck next year. He's a natural 1, provides a balance between scoring and distributing, and is NBA-ready (meaning he can contribute at the college level on Day 1).

[LasVegas]

I just don't see how Kennard leaves after this season. I have no inside info but he just "feels" like a 3 year guy who will get his degree.

One thing to note, I just love hearing all the talk from his dad about how hard he worked this summer because he wanted to play. Some kids see competition and run from it. Some kids embrace it and use it as fuel to get better. Great LIFE lesson for younger kids.

[BlueDevilWildcat]

Recent article on Knox: http://bit.ly/2mimzQ2

I'm more worried about UNC and even FSU than UK. What would our options be at SF if we don't get Knox?

[CameronBlue]

I just don't see how Kennard leaves after this season. I have no inside info but he just "feels" like a 3 year guy who will get his degree.

One thing to note, I just love hearing all the talk from his dad about how hard he worked this summer because he wanted to play. Some kids see competition and run from it. Some kids embrace it and use it as fuel to get better. Great LIFE lesson for younger kids.

Kennard's defense is an extreme liability at this juncture of his development and, as is, will not transfer to the NBA. I'd love to see him stay 4 years for selfish reasons but I fear he will quickly fade into obscurity in the pros without serious work on his defense. The potential is there to be a Kyle Korver type of specialist but a starter on an upper echelon NBA team doesn't seem within his reach at the moment.

[flyingdutchdevil]

Recent article on Knox: http://bit.ly/2mimzQ2

I'm more worried about UNC and even FSU than UK. What would our options be at SF if we don't get Knox?

Kennard or Gary Trent Jr. Coach K would likely play Knox at the 4.

[JasonEvans]

Kennard or Gary Trent Jr. Coach K would likely play Knox at the 4.

yada yada no positions yada yada...

I don't think K would play Knox at the 4. Carter is coming here to play the 4. He is very capable of stepping out and either hitting jumpers or putting the ball on the floor. I doubt he plays much center at all as I think Bolden, Jeter, and Vrank will all be here next season (and possibly Bamba if Bolden leaves).

Obviously, many early entry decisions have much to say about how stuff works out, but I just don't see Knox at the 4 all that much.

If we get Duval, which seems more likely than not, it would give us Duval and Jackson in the backcourt along with either Kennard (if he stays) or Knox or Trent on the other wing. Bolden/Bamba/Jeter in the post with Carter at the 4. Knox might play some 4 when Carter came out, but I am betting those would be limited minutes.

Until we know early decisions, there's just no way to decide anything. Recall that one great Final Four off the bench almost vaulted Grayson Allen into the draft. We simply have no idea about early entry at this point -- except for Tatum who, I think, is 100% turning pro -- everyone else is somewhere between 10% (Jackson) and 95% (Giles).

-Jason "FWIW, I would put the other odds as Grayson-70%, Kennard-50%, Bolden-30%" Evans

[CDu]

yada yada no positions yada yada...

I don't think K would play Knox at the 4. Carter is coming here to play the 4. He is very capable of stepping out and either hitting jumpers or putting the ball on the floor. I doubt he plays much center at all as I think Bolden, Jeter, and Vrank will all be here next season (and possibly Bamba if Bolden leaves).

Obviously, many early entry decisions have much to say about how stuff works out, but I just don't see Knox at the 4 all that much.

If we get Duval, which seems more likely than not, it would give us Duval and Jackson in the backcourt along with either Kennard (if he stays) or Knox or Trent on the other wing. Bolden/Bamba/Jeter in the post with Carter at the 4. Knox might play some 4 when Carter came out, but I am betting those would be limited minutes.

Until we know early decisions, there's just no way to decide anything. Recall that one great Final Four off the bench almost vaulted Grayson Allen into the draft. We simply have no idea about early entry at this point -- except for Tatum who, I think, is 100% turning pro -- everyone else is somewhere between 10% (Jackson) and 95% (Giles).

-Jason "FWIW, I would put the other odds as Grayson-70%, Kennard-50%, Bolden-30%" Evans

Nothing about Carter's scouting suggests he's mobile enough to defend the college PF spot. He's 6'9", 255, plays C in high school, with lots of power and skill around the basket. But he is said to have "heavy feet." That doesn't sound like a Duke PF. I would expect Carter to play at C. And yes, that would create a logjam. The same logjam we have this year with Jefferson (who may on DBR profess should be at PF), Giles (ditto), Bolden, Jeter, and Vrankovic. In this scenario, we'd sub out Giles and Jefferson and replace them with Carter.

Maybe Carter proves to be more mobile than his scouting reports suggest. But I have trouble seeing Duke go with two Cs on the floor. And everything about Carter's game screams college C to me.

I think it would be very likely that Knox - like Tatum this year, and Ingram last year, and countless other 6'8" guys who were NBA SFs, would play PF at Duke.

[flyingdutchdevil]

yada yada no positions yada yada...

I don't think K would play Knox at the 4. Carter is coming here to play the 4. He is very capable of stepping out and either hitting jumpers or putting the ball on the floor. I doubt he plays much center at all as I think Bolden, Jeter, and Vrank will all be here next season (and possibly Bamba if Bolden leaves).

Obviously, many early entry decisions have much to say about how stuff works out, but I just don't see Knox at the 4 all that much.

If we get Duval, which seems more likely than not, it would give us Duval and Jackson in the backcourt along with either Kennard (if he stays) or Knox or Trent on the other wing. Bolden/Bamba/Jeter in the post with Carter at the 4. Knox might play some 4 when Carter came out, but I am betting those would be limited minutes.

Until we know early decisions, there's just no way to decide anything. Recall that one great Final Four off the bench almost vaulted Grayson Allen into the draft. We simply have no idea about early entry at this point -- except for Tatum who, I think, is 100% turning pro -- everyone else is somewhere between 10% (Jackson) and 95% (Giles).

-Jason "FWIW, I would put the other odds as Grayson-70%, Kennard-50%, Bolden-30%" Evans

So much fun stuff to discuss in this post!

1) First, this sounds exactly what many posters thought of Tatum-Giles-Amile, and it worked out like that until a) keeping Matt Jones on the bench turned out to be a terrible idea and b) Tatum at the 4 frightens all opponents. I think Carter may start at the 4 (with Knox at the 3), but Coach K will likely make a move during the beginning of the ACC season (just like Tatum. Just like Winslow). If I'm not mistaken, the only time Coach K has not used an NBA 3 at the 4 in the last 15 seasons when he's had choices is 2010-11 (in 2009-10, Singler was forced to play the 3). If Knox comes, I don't see that changing.

2) If our frontcourt includes Carter, Bolden, Vrank, and Jeter next year, there is no way Bamba comes. We seem to agree on this. I think if the frontcourt includes Carter, Vrank, and Jeter, Bamba still doesn't come. That's because I think Carter plays the 5 moreso than the 4.

3) I think the players who go pro are more binary than odds-based right now (with the exception of a few). Like you, I see Tatum as 100%. I also see Giles and Allen at 100% (Giles because of risk to injury, Allen because of the way the media has treated him). I also see Bolden at 100%, because of his comment that "Duke will get me to the NBA" when he announced his college of choice. I see Jackson at 0%, because I think Jackson wants to showcase his skillset and this season hasn't allowed him to do that as much. The only player who I am unsure of is Kennard, who I just at 75% to leave. I actually, it may be 50%. I don't know. Kennard is tough to place because I don't think he can improve his stock next year but I don't think he can fall far, and next year is a super-weak draft compared to this year. So, getting drafted 25 this year may be 15 next year.

[kAzE]

yada yada no positions yada yada...

I don't think K would play Knox at the 4. Carter is coming here to play the 4. He is very capable of stepping out and either hitting jumpers or putting the ball on the floor. I doubt he plays much center at all as I think Bolden, Jeter, and Vrank will all be here next season (and possibly Bamba if Bolden leaves).

Obviously, many early entry decisions have much to say about how stuff works out, but I just don't see Knox at the 4 all that much.

If we get Duval, which seems more likely than not, it would give us Duval and Jackson in the backcourt along with either Kennard (if he stays) or Knox or Trent on the other wing. Bolden/Bamba/Jeter in the post with Carter at the 4. Knox might play some 4 when Carter came out, but I am betting those would be limited minutes.

Until we know early decisions, there's just no way to decide anything. Recall that one great Final Four off the bench almost vaulted Grayson Allen into the draft. We simply have no idea about early entry at this point -- except for Tatum who, I think, is 100% turning pro -- everyone else is somewhere between 10% (Jackson) and 95% (Giles).

-Jason "FWIW, I would put the other odds as Grayson-70%, Kennard-50%, Bolden-30%" Evans

A lot of interesting takes in this post. I'm surprised that you think Carter would exclusively play the 4. I was already under the impression that his best college position was the 5. He is 6'10", 250 after all, so he has the size the bang, and the skill to play out on the perimeter or high post and create mismatches.

Of course, we will likely have Bolden and Jeter around, and I do think it's likely that Bolden will improve substantially. However, I have a really hard time imagining a Bolden/Carter starting front court. It would be one of, if not THE the biggest starting lineup Coach K has ever used. I'm also not completely sold on Carter as a stretch 4. His perimeter game seems more like a secondary weapon to his paint prowess than his biggest strength. Though he has some finesse in his game, he's still a power player first. His best skills are still rebounding and scoring in the paint. Putting him on the perimeter largely wastes his potential inside.

[CDu]

A lot of interesting takes in this post. I'm surprised that you think Carter would exclusively play the 4. I was already under the impression that his best college position was the 5. He is 6'10", 250 after all, so he has the size the bang, and the skill to play out on the perimeter or high post and create mismatches.

Of course, we will likely have Bolden and Jeter around, and I do think it's likely that Bolden will improve substantially. However, I have a really hard time imagining a Bolden/Carter starting front court. It would be one of, if not THE the biggest starting lineup Coach K has ever used. I'm also not completely sold on Carter as a stretch 4. His perimeter game seems more like a secondary weapon to his paint prowess than his biggest strength. Though he has some finesse in his game, he's still a power player first. His best skills are still rebounding and scoring in the paint. Putting him on the perimeter largely wastes his potential inside.

I agree. Carter is a post player who can shoot it a little bit. He's also a BIG guy, which would mean that if paired with Bolden we would have two guys who are... not fleet of foot. That's not the way Coach K has liked to do things. He typically wants mobility and versatility on defense, which is why we've almost always gone smaller/quicker at the PF spot.

I mean, Coach K is certainly more willing to change his style than most coaches. But it would be quite out of character for us to go with a two-big lineup all season if we have a guy like Knox who can play a stretch-4 role.