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Duke Basketball: Analyzing potential 2019-20 rotation for Blue Devils

By Matthew Travis

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts with Tre Jones #3 after a basket against the UCF Knights during the first half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 24: Zion Williamson #1 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts with Tre Jones #3 after a basket against the UCF Knights during the first half in the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 24, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 09: Javin DeLaurier #12 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – MARCH 09: Javin DeLaurier #12 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play against the North Carolina Tar Heels during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Center

Minutes Allocated (40): Vernon Carey jr. (28), Javin DeLaurier (12)

The Duke Blue Devils top ranked recruit for the Class of 2019 is a center for the first time since Jahlil Okafor filled that role for the Blue Devils in 2014-15 and if you recall, that season ended in pretty great fashion for the Blue Devils.

Vernon Carey jr., a 6’10” 275lb center will take the court for Duke as the sixth ranked freshman, but even though he is the top ranked Blue Devil in this year’s class, this marks the first time since the Class of 2010 that the top-ranked Blue Devil is not also the top-ranked player in the ACC.

Nonetheless, Carey won’t let that stop him next season as he aims to help the Blue Devils win back-to-back ACC Tournament titles.

Carey is a giant who when in the paint cannot be stopped by anyone. His 6’10” height and 7’0″ wingspan makes him a hassle to guard and because of this he is able to bully opponents on the offensive and defensive glass.

Something Carey will need to work on is his transition play as he is not a fast player and is not the first one down the court on either end. If he can manage to get some speed under his feet he will be an absolutely unstoppable player who will help the Blue Devils down low.

The other player who will get some minutes at center will be senior, Javin DeLaurier. For whatever reason, Coach K seems to love DeLaurier as he gave the rising senior a tad over 16 minutes per game last season.

DeLaurier occasionally appears lost on the court without much of an idea of what to do. In those 16.3 minutes per game, DeLaurier averaged 3.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.3 blocks per game last season.

If it were up to me, I would give DeLaurier AT MOST five minutes per game because as I mentioned, he appears lost on the court several times throughout the course of the game and he has a low basketball IQ. However, it is not up to me and unfortunately Duke doesn’t really have much of a second option at center so he will have to do for this next season.

Next. 10 programs poised to land elite 2020 recruiting classes. dark

The new look Blue Devils will be a very interesting team to watch during the 2019-20 season and it will be interesting to see how they shape up against tough opponents early on in the season.

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