Duke Basketball: Will this be the Blue Devils best recruiting class ever?
The Duke Blue Devils have built a legacy in the college basketball world, and they’re still building. Is their latest recruiting class their best ever?
The Duke Blue Devils, at one point, didn’t believe in the “One and Done” rule at first, but things changed after a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament in 2007. Since then, Duke has won two National Championships and has made it at least to the second round.
The Blue Devils evolution in the recruiting world was a shock to some but not most. In a college basketball world that changes by the season, Duke and head coach Mike Krzyzewski had to do something to adjust.
Fast forward to 2018 and Coach K has just signed one of the best classes in school history. Shooting guard R.J. Barrett, small forward Cam Reddish, power forward Zion Williamson and point guard Tre Jones. They will be four names to know next season for the Duke Blue Devils and for good reason because they’re considered Top 10 overall recruits in this year’s class and could very well be top picks in the upcoming 2019 NBA Draft.
The Blue Devils 2018 recruiting class is stacked and arguably, it’s best ever. In 2017, they reeled in seven recruits including Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter. With Bagley and Carter in the lineup, Duke made it all the way to the Sweet 16. With this year’s class, they should be right back in the Final Four.
A big haul in 2018
R.J. Barrett is the consensus first overall ranked player in 2018 recruiting class by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals and he’s not even from the United States, he’s from Canada. He’s a 6-foot-7 player with tons of talent and quite the resume.
The Canadian native is the godson of Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash, who is also the general manager of Canadian Basketball. Barrett spent his senior year at Monteverde (FL) Academy in 2017-18, averaging 28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He led his squad to a 35-0 record and a national championship in his final high school season.
Cam Reddish is a 6-foot-7 small forward who is the former teammate of Arizona Wildcats freshman DeAndre Ayton. Much like Ayton, Reddish has tons of versatility on the hardwood with the ball in his hands. He comes from Westtown, PA, a school that is set to be featured on an SITV special called “WeTown”.
Tre Jones is set to be the point guard for this incoming class of recruits. A 6-foot-3 native of Minnesota, Jones is the brother of Tyus Jones, a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tyus was also a member of Duke’s national championship squad back in 2015. So, the bar has already been set for the younger Jones coming in.
Then there’s Zion Williamson, a 6-foot-8 power forward who burst onto the scene via YouTube with a number of highlight-reel dunks and plays. When it came time for Williamson to make his college decision, he surprised many by selecting the Duke Blue Devils as his college destination. He’s got crazy athleticism and shooting ability for a guy of his size.
If Coach K can get this group playing at optimal levels in 2018-19, they will be a scary group to watch. Not since 2015 when they boasted a roster of Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow has Duke been so stacked with top NBA Draft picks.
After seeing what Wendell Carter Jr. and Marvin Bagley III can do under Coach K’s tutelage, this group has a chance to be his best class ever. It could be championship or bust for this group by the time the 2018-19 season kicks off, stay tuned!