Transfers/Grad Transfers 2018/2019

[Dukebasketball2020]

Anybody have any info on guys we might take a look at? I think it would be nice to bring in another body to bang down low.

[Troublemaker]

Anybody have any info on guys we might take a look at? I think it would be nice to bring in another body to bang down low.

We've never brought in a grad transfer, and I don't expect that to start now.

We're also really selective with regular transfers, too; I believe we can still count on one hand the number of those we've accepted in Coach K's close to 40 year career at Duke. With high school recruiting rolling like it is, I think we'll take our chances with getting what we need in the 2019 high school class (the relevant class since, of course, regular transfers have to sit out a year).

We are looking at EJ Montgomery in the 2018 high school class. If we bring in another big, it'll probably be him.

[JasonEvans]

I think it would be nice to bring in another body to bang down low.

Zion, Javin, and Bolden are not enough? Vrank (C) and White/Robinson (PF) would be available too. How many bigs do you think we need?

Pretty close to a zero percent chance Duke takes a grad transfer this year. The roster is full and the competition for minutes will be intense. That's not the kind of situation grad transfers tend to be seeking.

[flyingdutchdevil]

Anybody have any info on guys we might take a look at? I think it would be nice to bring in another body to bang down low.

Seriously? We have a formidable frontline next year (Bolden, DeLaurier, and Zion will play the majority of the 4/5. I expect Reddish will play some 4 when Coach K wants to go small, fast, and trigger-happy).

Duke doesn't need transfers for the next year. Unless Bolden or DeLaurier unexpectedly leave.

[Oriole Way]

We've never brought in a grad transfer, and I don't expect that to start now.

We're also really selective with regular transfers, too; I believe we can still count on one hand the number of those we've accepted in Coach K's close to 40 year career at Duke. With high school recruiting rolling like it is, I think we'll take our chances with getting what we need in the 2019 high school class (the relevant class since, of course, regular transfers have to sit out a year).

We are looking at EJ Montgomery in the 2018 high school class. If we bring in another big, it'll probably be him.

Just because Duke has never brought a grad transfer in, doesn't mean K won't do it. If there's a player in the right situation academically that would help the team, a grad transfer could theoretically happen. K had never had a team play mostly zone until this year, right? There's a first time for everything.

[Troublemaker]

Just because Duke has never brought a grad transfer in, doesn't mean K won't do it. If there's a player in the right situation academically that would help the team, a grad transfer could theoretically happen. K had never had a team play mostly zone until this year, right? There's a first time for everything.

Well, I didn't say it was impossible, did I? I just said since it has never happened before, I don't expect it to happen.

[CDu]

We currently have 10 recruited scholarship players scheduled to play next year, excluding Duval and Trent (note: that ten doesn't include the nonrecruited Robinson, who could be awarded a scholarship again if we don't use all of them on recruits):
Barrett
Bolden
DeLaurier
Goldwire
Jones
O'Connell
Reddish
Vrankovic
White
Williamson

That includes a complete rotation in the frontcourt with Williamson, Bolden, and DeLaurier, with White and Vrankovic available as needed. And a fairly full backcourt, with Jones, Barrett, Reddish, and O'Connell, with Goldwire there if needed. And we're still recruiting another big in the freshman class (Montgomery).

Honestly, unless we get surprise bad news from Bolden or DeLaurier, I can't see a need in the frontcourt, much less a big that would look at Duke's frontcourt situation and say "yeah, I'd like to use my grad transfer to go there because I see minutes available". Similar story on the perimeter.

There have been years in which we could have used a grad transfer big (we did kick the tires in the summer of 2013 with Tarik Black, but that didn't work out). This coming year doesn't seem to be one of them.

[flyingdutchdevil]

Just because Duke has never brought a grad transfer in, doesn't mean K won't do it. If there's a player in the right situation academically that would help the team, a grad transfer could theoretically happen. K had never had a team play mostly zone until this year, right? There's a first time for everything.

Agreed. It just ain't gonna happen this year.

Let's assume that the starting 5 is gone (I know Trent is debatable, but let's assume he bolts). Let's assume Bolden and DeLaurier stay (a smart assumption). Let's assume EJ Monty is 50/50. Duke's rotation looks like the following (italics mean we're likely to see them there at some point even if it's not their primary responsibility. Underline is not yet signed with Duke):

PG: Tyus Jones 2.0, Jordan Goldwire, RJ Barrett, Cameron Reddish
SG: RJ Barrett, Alex O'Connell
SF: Cameron Reddish, RJ Barrett
PF: Zion Williamson, Javin DeLaurier, Cameron Reddish
C: Marques Bolden, Javin DeLaurier, EJ Monty

Basically, we have at least 2 players who can play any of the positions, and potentially 5 players at the 4/5. The "shallowest" position is SG, but you can put Cameron Reddish there as well.

If this year's team screams, "Position-based basketball", next year screams, "flexibility".

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

I agree with the above. No minutes available, unless K just wants to bring in some beef for practice time.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Out of curiosity, I did a check on Makai Mason from Yale. If you recall, he was a star on their 2016 team that upset Baylor then lost to Duke in the Tournament. He sat out the 16-17 season (his junior year) due to a foot injury, and since the Ivy League does not allow redshirts, he is essentially being forced to do a grad transfer if he wants to have an additional year to play. Very early in the process he committed to doing his grad transfer at Baylor next year. Before he committed to Baylor there was some gossip that he would be a good fit for Duke (this was also well before we signed our current recruiting class).

This year, his senior season at Yale, he reinjured his left foot and was out for the whole year, came back in mid-February for Yale's game at Harvard, and sat out the rest of the year. Hopefully he will be healthy enough to play next year. With all of the talent we have coming in we obviously do not need him, but with his talent and history of foot injuries, he likely would have fit in very nicely...

[ChillinDuke]

We currently have 10 recruited scholarship players scheduled to play next year, excluding Duval and Trent (note: that ten doesn't include the nonrecruited Robinson, who could be awarded a scholarship again if we don't use all of them on recruits):
Barrett
Bolden
DeLaurier
Goldwire
Jones
O'Connell
Reddish
Vrankovic
White
Williamson



It's a small nit, and probably an opinion at that, but given how K has used him this year, I suspect that Justin Robinson's scholarship is no longer negotiable going forward. My assumption, nothing in stone.

- Chillin

[FerryFor50]

It's a small nit, and probably an opinion at that, but given how K has used him this year, I suspect that Justin Robinson's scholarship is no longer negotiable going forward. My assumption, nothing in stone.

- Chillin

Good thing his dad might have some $$ laying around. :p

[yancem]

It's a small nit, and probably an opinion at that, but given how K has used him this year, I suspect that Justin Robinson's scholarship is no longer negotiable going forward. My assumption, nothing in stone.

- Chillin

Given how he has played this year, I would certainly like to see him keep his scholarship. I think he has earned it. It would definitely be disappointing to have his scholarship pulled for a one year grad transfer who won't likely see that much playing time next year. That being said, scholarships are technically a one year deal and the coaches/school have the ability to yank it if the want. Don't see it happening though (at least I hope not).

[Saratoga2]

Seriously? We have a formidable frontline next year (Bolden, DeLaurier, and Zion will play the majority of the 4/5. I expect Reddish will play some 4 when Coach K wants to go small, fast, and trigger-happy).

Duke doesn't need transfers for the next year. Unless Bolden or DeLaurier unexpectedly leave.

With Bolden, there still is a chance he will be in the NBA sites. His size, length and athleticism are something the NBA notices. Wouldn't hurt to have another big just in case and Vrank hasn't shown he can handle a starter role.

[flyingdutchdevil]

With Bolden, there still is a chance he will be in the NBA sites. His size, length and athleticism are something the NBA notices. Wouldn't hurt to have another big just in case and Vrank hasn't shown he can handle a starter role.

I don't think Vrank starting is ever in the cards. No, it's not the next Brian Zoubek.

As for Bolden, he can bounce. But then DeLaurier likely starts at the 5. That also makes it more enticing for EJ Monty to come on board. And in the super worst case that Bolden leaves AND EJ don't come, you have Jones-Barrett-Reddish-Zion-DeLaurier with AOC and White as backups.

I'm not worried about next year's body count.

[Troublemaker]

With Bolden, there still is a chance he will be in the NBA sites. His size, length and athleticism are something the NBA notices. Wouldn't hurt to have another big just in case and Vrank hasn't shown he can handle a starter role.

Not this year. The draft is loaded with big men, and as hard as this is to believe, the NBA has too many centers because of the league's continuing move towards smallball.

Various relevant links:

https://www.theringer.com/2016/12/20/16040924/the-nba-might-have-too-many-big-men-1a654d0b1dec

https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/8/24/12548558/2016-offseason-the-nba-has-too-many-centers

https://sircharlesincharge.com/2017/06/27/nba-center-market-sell-buy-2017/

https://www.sbnation.com/2017/7/17/15981266/nba-center-position-bad-free-agents

[flyingdutchdevil]

I don't think Vrank starting is ever in the cards. No, it's not the next Brian Zoubek.

As for Bolden, he can bounce. But then DeLaurier likely starts at the 5. That also makes it more enticing for EJ Monty to come on board. And in the super worst case that Bolden leaves AND EJ don't come, you have Jones-Barrett-Reddish-Zion-DeLaurier with AOC and White as backups.

I'm not worried about next year's body count.

I understand this post is riddled with grammatical mistakes. Wow...

[fraggler]

Not this year. The draft is loaded with big men, and as hard as this is to believe, the NBA has too many centers because of the league's continuing move towards smallball.

Various relevant links:

https://www.theringer.com/2016/12/20/16040924/the-nba-might-have-too-many-big-men-1a654d0b1dec

https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2016/8/24/12548558/2016-offseason-the-nba-has-too-many-centers

https://sircharlesincharge.com/2017/06/27/nba-center-market-sell-buy-2017/

https://www.sbnation.com/2017/7/17/15981266/nba-center-position-bad-free-agents

Agreed. You need to be something of an elite rim runner and defensive force like a Clint Capela and Deandre Jordan, or a big who can shoot the 3. So far, Marques is neither. I really like him and hope he stays, gets healthy, and adds the necessary elements to his game to have a nice career as a pro.

[jimsumner]

Duke pursued Tarik Black as a grad-student option a few years ago when he was leaving Memphis. Black got an offer and made a visit, before selecting Kansas.

Duke would have pursued a grad-student option PG after the 2015 season, had Thornton not re-classed.

David Cutcliffe and Joanne P. McCallie had their first grad-student transfers this academic year and sports like baseball and soccer have had multiple grad-student transfers over the years.

So, I wouldn't put too much weight in the K's-never-done-it-before argument. He actually has tried to do it before.

Just not successfully. But there's no program or institutional bias against this. If the need is there, Duke would look very hard. Until we know for sure what Bolden and Montgomery are going to do, we don't know if that need will arise.

But if DeLaurier and Vrankovic are the only options at the 5, I rather suspect that would constitute a need.

And Duke absolutely would pull Justin Robinson's scholarship should the need arise. He knew that going in. It would not be a problem.

[jacone21]

O'Connell's brother Shawn just announced that he is leaving Georgia Southern and seeking a grad transfer. I don't think he'll get a scholly from Duke, but I do wonder if we'll see him as a walk on.

[jimsumner]

O'Connell's brother Shawn just announced that he is leaving Georgia Southern and seeking a grad transfer. I don't think he'll get a scholly from Duke, but I do wonder if we'll see him as a walk on.

He's 6-8, 210. But he averaged around 3 ppg at Georgia Southern.

So, he might be useful as a walk-on. But I can't imagine he's get a scholarship.

[DUKIE V(A)]

Should Reid Travis decide to take advantage of the graduate transfer rule I would imagine he might draw some interest from Duke (especially if Bolden leaves or EJ Montgomery decides to go elsewhere). A good, experienced big man could prove invaluable with such a young team. That is a lot of ifs but I would not totally rule it out.

[flyingdutchdevil]

Should Reid Travis decide to take advantage of the graduate transfer rule I would imagine he might draw some interest from Duke (especially if Bolden leaves or EJ Montgomery decides to go elsewhere). A good, experienced big man could prove invaluable with such a young team. That is a lot of ifs but I would not totally rule it out.

Travis makes a lot of sense, if it weren't for the fact that this would be the most blatant example of "recruiting over another player". Which we all know Duke doesn't do ;). Joking aside, it would take Bolden leaving AND Monty not coming to attract a really good talent like Travis.

[dukejim1]

Danny Hurley needs to go recruit the 3 best Pitt transfers. Then he gets the best players both schools have and they don't have to play in the ACC. That would be a slick move.