For Joey Baker’s sake, I hope uh_no has this right. Joey needs 2 more years to develop into a good player.
For example, despite my distaste for Bilas’s forays into “humor,” effing reffing, and “entertainment,” he knows the game. I was surprised when during the UL game, he sorta snapped at Baker, saying something like, “Joey Baker has to quit doing that stuff. He needs to learn to dribble and pass.” Maybe other players irritate Bilas, but I’m telling you, Bilas was irritated at Baker.
And, imo, for good reason. Joey’s handle is poor; it holds him back, substantially. He does not seem to have worked hard to become a better dribbler. He seems to love Duke, is an enthusiastic teammate, can shoot. And yes, last night, he did successfully drive to the basket with a nice drop-off to Williams. It was a shocking moment, because so unexpected.
Do I recall that Baker reclassified, came to Duke a year early? So that’s presumably the reason he was expected to redshirt. But of course he didn’t, a development — a rash moment — I suspect K regrets. But if uh_no has it right, K and Joey can rectify that burned redshirt mistake, if Joey can and does stay 2 more years.
Surely Joey still hopes to play professionally, somewhere. Can he, as little more than a good shooter, with poor handle, footwork, defense? He does occasionally make a very good hustle play, a steal or defensive disruption here and there. But he has a lot of work to do. Especially on his handle.