DavidBenAkiva
Member
Ament is probably closer to 6'11". When he was at the Duke game on Saturday, he was clearly taller than Cameron Boozer, who is listed at 6'9".
2025 Men's Basketball Recruiting
- Thread starter DavidBenAkiva
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This is not a "problem" so much as just reversion to the pre-2020 norm. There will be a talent drain, but that's only because the talent pool has been inflated by the free COVID year. There will be fewer people eligible to play college sports, and those that are eligible will on average be less experienced. Sounds bad, but it's just a return to the state of affairs from 2006 (beginning of the one-and-done era) to 2020. The glut of talent filtering down the basketball pyramid the last few years has been the exception, not the rule.
There are a few wildcards. The portal/transfer market and NIL weren't really a thing pre-COVID, so we haven't seen how those dynamics play out in an era with fewer and (in aggregate) worse players. Also, starting next season, the scholarship limit goes up from 13 to 15. Will this result in high major teams "hoarding" more quality players at the end of their bench? Will the NIL math work out that it's more lucrative to be a benchwarmer at high major than a starter at a lower-tier school?
kshepinthehouse
Member
I absolutely love Evans. And so does my seven year old.
But Evans has exactly 2 stocks for the whole entire season. That's baaaadddddd. I can't think of a time I have ever seen that from a player. Much less a Duke player.
SkyBrickey
Member
Here's what else will happen. As the P4 teams lose 40% of their players, there won't be nearly as many quality players in the portal to fill their spots, so competition for transfers will be fierce. This will drive inflation - higher salaries for the players.
It will be an offseason where you want to lockdown your core roster early and stay out of the many crazy bidding wars that are bound to happpen.
JasonEvans
Host, The Duke Basketball Roundup
Lemme add one more thing...
If you watched that video I posted earlier, you saw Ament repeatedly find teammates cutting to the basket and open because the defense was focused on him. I saw at least 3 or 4 assists in that game, which is a big number for a high school game. Nate Ament has really great court vision and is an unselfish player -- he's not on the level of Cooper Flagg, but he's also not entirely unlike what Coop does for us right now.
I love Isaiah Evans but he ain't a "share the ball" kinda player. This season, he has a grand total of -- wait for it -- 7 assists in 264 minutes of playing time. His assist rate (which is not minute-dependant) is second lowest on the team. Only Khaman Maluach is lower (and Khaman pretty much dunks or tries to dunk the ball every time he gets it). Coop, Kon, Reese, Caleb, Sion, and even Maliq all have at least double the assist rate that Evans does.
I say the above not as a criticism of Isaiah -- dude knows his role and his role ain't to be a passer -- but to explain one of the ways Nate Ament is a significantly different player from Isaiah Evans.
I would love to have both of them on the roster next year... I just hope Scheyer can work some magic to make it happen.
DavidBenAkiva
Member
Yes, I think Ament is similar to Kon in terms of his ability to find teammates. I am not as sure about how he operates as a handler in the pick-and-roll. Kon is really good at that.
One thing I will say about Evans is that, like you said, he is playing a role: instant offense. He has bought into that this year and is doing a good job of it. I have also noticed that he rarely lets the ball stick in his hands. He's a certified gunner, it's true. But he's rarely going into ISO situations and trying to get his shot at all costs. His shots mostly come in the flow of the offense. When his shot isn't there, he often keeps the ball moving. I think he has more to his game than he is showing this year, which is understandable.
SkyBrickey
Member
Ament would be one of our main offensive playmakers. Similar to Cooper and Kon this year. He is that good. He and Cam would develop great court chemistry together.
Proctor / Ament / Cam / Brown-Ngongba would be a killer core-four - the best in the country. Then there are options on #5.
Evans or Harris would push Proctor back to PG and give you elite shooting and some playmaking, but how strong is that team defensively?
Cayden may come in and seize the PG role based on his strength as a facilitator and chemistry with his brother, leaving Proctor at SG. How well does he defend?
Foster could surprise and make a huge junior year leap like Nolan and Wendell - and we could roll with a Foster/Cayden PG combo.
Or Jon could try and find a Sion James clone in the portal to start at PG - a rugged defender, glue guy ball handler connector type.
If I were Duke's GM, this is how I'd be thinking about next year's roster... First priorities are landing Ament and convincing all of Proctor-Brown-Ngongba to return.
Proctor / Ament / Cam / Brown-Ngongba would be a killer core-four - the best in the country. Then there are options on #5.
Evans or Harris would push Proctor back to PG and give you elite shooting and some playmaking, but how strong is that team defensively?
Cayden may come in and seize the PG role based on his strength as a facilitator and chemistry with his brother, leaving Proctor at SG. How well does he defend?
Foster could surprise and make a huge junior year leap like Nolan and Wendell - and we could roll with a Foster/Cayden PG combo.
Or Jon could try and find a Sion James clone in the portal to start at PG - a rugged defender, glue guy ball handler connector type.
If I were Duke's GM, this is how I'd be thinking about next year's roster... First priorities are landing Ament and convincing all of Proctor-Brown-Ngongba to return.
Indoor66
Well-known member
What are stocks?
Ownership shares of companies, but that's not important right now.
Steals + blocks. When they look at it on a rate basis, it is sometimes called the Hakeem %.
Indoor66
Well-known member
Are you always a smart alec who speaks in tongues?
I see you're still on Foster island since preseason. You got it right on Kon island but not Foster island. Don't give up there's always next season, ha ha. I guess you could say I'm on Isaiah island. I think if he gets playing time he will be a really good player for Duke. If not this season, maybe next season. He gave me a glimpse of what he could do last night. He's done everything the coaches have asked. He's gotten better on defense and will get better. I'm just glad he got minutes against Auburn. I'll bet on Isaiah over Ament next season.
GoDuke!
fidel
Member
Interesting take. Actual question: Cooper has been called ‘generational’ by many in the media. Is this hype? Or is this a Seattle Slew/Affirmed back-to-back surge of talent?
It’s surprising to me that there are three guys potentially better than a ‘generational’ talent.
Phredd3
Member
Yes, he was impressive last night. Good passing, went aggressively after rebounds, played good defense, and even blocked a shot, in addition to efficient scoring. That was Evans' best all around game in a Duke uniform, I think.
Guess they're referring to generational in terms of mosquitos?
Stray Gator
Moderator
Maybe he's refining other elements of his skill set and developing into a more complete player by listening to the coaches and learning from his teammates -- just like freshmen are supposed to do. If the Duke program is fulfilling its promise and living up to its reputation, then even those members of the team who leave after one season should be better players than they were when they arrived.
DavidBenAkiva
Member
The term "generational" is a meaningless word that gets thrown around to sell clicks. There are few truly unique players. Things like injuries or fit with a team get in the way. I don't think we'll know one way or the other for a couple of decades or... wait for it... a generation.
When they were in high school last year, most of the scouts agreed that Dybantsa was the better prospect. Coincidently, he is only about a month younger than Flagg. Flagg has played so well that there would be a legitimate debate about the first overall pick between him and Dybantsa.
If I were ranking the prospects right now, I'd have them like this:
1. Flagg
2. Dybantsa
3. Peterson
4. Harper
5. Cameron Boozer
6. Ace Bailey
7. Nate Ament
The NBA is a guards and wings league at the moment, or I'd have Boozer higher on the list. He has just about the highest floor among any of these players but also the lowest ceiling. The top of the draft is usually about the player with the highest ceiling. Perhaps his efficient production will be so good that it outweighs concerns about making plays for others. He is a great outlet passer, so I could be wrong about him.
JGDUKE2008
Member
I think its highly unlikely both proctor and foster come back next year.
I'll trust the people who have seen Ament play. They are saying he'd be 1B to Boozer's 1A.
SkyBrickey
Member
I don't remember a Foster island. It sounds like you're scoring some kind of game in your head. I haven't given up on the kid, no. He looked better last night. So did Evans. I cheer for all these guys.