Originally Posted by
tommy
While I agree that getting a third #1, probable one-and-done recruit in three years would only help our credibility on the trail, at this point nothing is going to make us the "cool" program in the eyes of today's kids again. Unless they think that something like, I don't know, winning is the coolest thing. Imagine that. But Duke is not viewed as cool -- we're viewed fairly or unfairly as the establishment, the private, the traditional, old money, button-downed, controlled. And yes, the white.
To me, one of the great benefits of getting Shabazz, besides his being an outstanding player and by all accounts a terrific kid with a good head on his shoulders, is the type of lineups his presence would allow us to play. In particular, if he was to play the 2, he's a long, strong, rangy, physically mature guy who could not only take it strong to the bucket and finish, but more importantly, play the type of aggressive, pressure defense with the long arms and long body that we would love to play. If he played the 3, he could do the same from that position, but perhaps allow Mike G to earn minutes alongside him at the 2. How great would it be to have a 6'7" 2-guard with shooting range and defensive instincts (assuming he develops both of those) to alternate with Curry and Sulaimon and Dawkins at the 2?
Pretty great, that's how great.