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Duke Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Blue Devils

By Brad Cavallaro

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 14: Javin DeLaurier
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 14: Javin DeLaurier /
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SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy goes up for a layup in a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
SPRINGFIELD, MA – JANUARY 15: R.J. Barrett #5 of Montverde Academy goes up for a layup in a game against Mater Dei High School during the 2018 Spalding Hoophall Classic at Blake Arena at Springfield College on January 15, 2018 in Springfield, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Starters

Point Guard- Tre Jones, Freshman

Even though Tre Jones physically resembles his brother Tyus, it is hard to envision him replicating the freshman season that his older brother had at Duke. Tre is an excellent player in his own right and will step into the starting PG role from day one. He is a great athlete who excels at attacking the rim and facilitating for his teammates. His long-range shooting is below average, but his ability to navigate the pick and roll makes up for that deficiency. Last season, Duke’s freshman PG, Trevon Duval, often struggled and was not a good fit on the roster so hopefully, Jones fares better than his predecessor.

Shooting Guard- RJ Barrett, Freshman

Barrett was rated as the top recruit in the country and he will be one of the faces of college basketball this season. The future top 5 NBA draft pick can play 1-4 (maybe even 5 as well) and dominates with his bruising style of play. Barrett can overpower guards and wings and is quick enough to blow by big men. He can create offense for himself and for his teammates, but he needs to become a more consistent outside shooter to realize his full and immense potential. Barrett will make his presence felt during his brief stint in college.

Small Forward- Cameron Reddish, Freshman

Reddish has a reputation for not always playing hard, but he is undeniably talented. He is also a projected top-five pick and he may have the most polished skill set on the team as he can score from anywhere on the court. Reddish could be the best shooter in Duke’s projected starting lineup and, like Barrett, he is versatile enough to play multiple positions. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to being a secondary (or tertiary) option, but his ability to space the floor and create offense will be extremely valuable regardless.

Power Forward- Zion Williamson, Freshman

Zion Williamson may be the most renowned incoming freshman of all time due to his flashy mixtapes that are filled with explosive dunks. His skillset is significantly more diverse than just his impressive athleticism as he is a shifty ball handler, extraordinary rebounder, and a reliable finisher. If Williamson can hit outside shots, the sky is the limit for the young PF. He is one of three projected top-five NBA Draft picks on this roster which shows how much young talent is on this Duke roster. It will be interesting to see if Duke uses him at center for stretches because that could be an unbelievably versatile and athletic lineup.

Center- Javin DeLaurier, Junior

Its hard not to love watching DeLaurier play. The 6’10” big man plays with great energy and activity both defensively and on the glass. With Carter and Bagley gone, he should see a significant increase in playing time and he could be an ideal complimentary piece next to the four elite freshmen. DeLaurier was often used out of position last season but could thrive as an athletic center. He averaged 3.4 ppg and 4.0 rpg as a sophomore, but expect those numbers to almost double this season.

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