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Duke Basketball: What the Blue Devils will look like in 2018-19

By Tristan Freeman

BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 29: Duke Blue Devils players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. Duke won 91-81. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 29: Duke Blue Devils players react from the bench in the second half of a game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Assembly Hall on November 29, 2017 in Bloomington, Indiana. Duke won 91-81. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 24: The bench of the Duke Blue Devils rects to a play late in the second half of the game during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 24, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Duke won the game 85-78. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – NOVEMBER 24: The bench of the Duke Blue Devils rects to a play late in the second half of the game during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 24, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Duke won the game 85-78. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

With the commitment of Zion Williamson, Duke basketball now has a historical 2018 recruiting class. How will he fit in on the roster for the Blue Devils?

Ever since high school players started being ranked, there have been some special college basketball classes in recent memory. A few immediately come to mind when it comes to their on-the-court impact. One was with Kentucky when they signed prize No. 1 recruit Anthony Davis and two other top 10 players. Another one was way back in 2002, where future pros Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants went signed on with North Carolina.

But neither of those teams, or any others for that matter, have ever had the top three recruits in the country pledge to the same team. But that happened on Saturday night when South Carolina native Zion Williamson chose the Duke Blue Devils over both of his local options, South Carolina and Clemson. He joins two other stars, RJ Barrett (No. 1) and Cameron Reddish (No. 2), along with No. 8 Tre Jones, to form the greatest recruiting class in history.

This commitment makes it four guaranteed players for Duke basketball for 2018, replacing both the graduating Grayson Allen along with a few surefire one-and-dones. There is also the possibility of potential departures from other players on the roster. The Blue Devils aren’t likely done on the 2018 recruiting front.

It’s going to be fascinating how head coach Mike Krzyzewski will utilize these key players, especially since some of these newcomers play the same positions. But let’s take a look at each incoming player as well as early look at the roster construction for the 2018-19 season.

*All rankings are courtesy of 247Sports Composite

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