Brandon Ingram is the Next Great Duke Small Forward

If there is one position where Mike Krzyzewski historically has had great players repeatedly playing for him it has to be the small forward position.

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Players like Grant Hill, Corey Maggette, Luol Deng, Rodney Hood, Mike Dunleavy, and Justise Winslow quickly come to mind when you think about some of the swingmen that have played the 3-spot for the Blue Devils.

Jabari Parker even played some small forward for Duke. He was mainly used as a power forward in his one-and-done season at Duke though he was better suited to be a swingman.

The lineage of outstanding small forwards is going to continue for the Duke Blue Devils in 2015-16.

Last season’s small forward, Justise Winslow, as we all know, left for the NBA and was drafted by the Miami Heat after winning a National Championship.

That left a void at small forward for the 2015-16 edition of Duke Basketball that is going to be filled by 6-foot-9, 195 pound incoming freshman Brandon Ingram.

Mar 28, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; McDonalds High School All American athlete Brandon X Ingram (13) poses for pictures during portrait day at the Westin Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Ingram was one of the most highly sought after players in the nation during the recruiting period and was considered the No.3 recruit in the land according to 247sports.

Being ranked in the Top 5 of your recruiting class more often than not will instantly put you in NBA Draft conversations.

The reason for Ingram being seen in such high regard is because he has the skills to be an outstanding pro player and physically he has not reached his peak yet.

You have to believe that since he is only 18-years-old he would be able to add some mass to his 195 pound frame. Also, having a 7-foot-3 wingspan is going to make him dangerous as a defender.

Like most swingmen should have, he possesses a strong all-around game. His shooting is pretty solid from the mid-range as well as from three-point range when he needs it.

Ingram can put the ball on the floor and get to the rim. He also shoots well off the dribble.

What is so eye-popping about Brandon Ingram’s game is how smooth and fluid his movement is. He can get to where he wants on the court and is able to find a way to finish with ease.

He also seems to understand the advantage he has with his arm length and uses that advantage both offensively and defensively.

Comparing Brandon Ingram to Kevin Durant is a pretty easy leap because they are both built similarly.

Ingram does seem to have a knack for putting the ball in the basket like Kevin Durant, but most would say that Durant was a better shooter at this point in his development.

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Being able to hit outside shots consistently might be the one thing that Ingram may need to show while he is torching the ACC this fall, though you can be sure that he is going to show his full repertoire from the opening tip of the season.

Ingram is destined to be a Top 10, maybe even a Top 5 NBA Draft pick when he declares.

According to the mock draft on NBAdraft.net he is seen as the No.5 in the 2016 NBA Draft while DraftExpress sees him as the No.4 NBA prospect in the land.

Brandon Ingram is going to be one of the most exciting players to watch in the 2015-16 college hoop season. There is no doubt that he is worthy of having the baton passed to him when it comes to the great swingmen that Duke has had play at Cameron Indoor.

It is going to be fun to see what kind of damage he does in the ACC this upcoming season. You can be confident he will live up to the hype.

Next: SMU Mustangs: The NCAA Continues to Punish the Wrong People

2016 NBA Draft Radar: Brandon Ingram is the Next Great Duke Small Forward

By James Fitzgerald | Oct 1, 2015

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