Duke Basketball: Alternatives for Blue Devils after losing out on Armando Bacot
By Bryan Mauro
Duke Basketball lost out on Armando Bacot to the North Carolina Tar Heels. What are the alternatives for the Blue Devils for the 2019 recruiting class?
The Duke Blue Devils have not experienced disappointment on the recruiting trail much in recent seasons. Many would say that Duke has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talent. So, when 5-star big man Armando Bacot, decided to play basketball at the University of North Carolina. The Blue Devils can’t help but feel a little spurned.
Even though Bacot snubbed the Blue Devils, the Cameron Crazies will have at least one chance to voice their displeasure with the big man’s decision. In the long run, Coach K and the Blue Devils are going to be okay. They seemingly are at the forefront of virtually every top recruit in the country. The Blue Devils are still going to have one of the top-ranked classes for 2019, even with losing Bacot.
Coach K has offered scholarships to two other top-ranked big men in the 2019 class. If either of these players committed to Duke, it would take away the sting of losing Bacot. Previously there was an article published that highlighted the top recruits that have been offered by Coach K. Two of those players were post players. These players are both different from Bacot in their own right, but both extremely talented players.
The Blue Devils coaching staff needs to get back out and start recruiting their remaining targets hard, to show that they are wanted. As with most of the players, the coaches are able to secure their offer lists are long and impressive. Duke will be able to impress virtually every recruit with their rabid fanbase, Cameron Indoor, and their tradition. It also doesn’t hurt they have the best coach in college basketball history on their side either.