Duke Basketball Recruiting: Blue Devils host big prospects in “Countdown to Craziness”
A handful of top 2020 and 2021 college basketball prospects was attendance for Duke Basketball’s annual Countdown to Craziness.
Duke Basketball hosted its Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Oct. 18. The event kicked-off at 4 p.m. (ET) on Friday and featured a Blue-White scrimmage. Several prospects from the class of 2020 and 2021 were in attendance, including uncommitted recruits Hunter Dickinson, Paola Banchero, and A.J. Griffin.
Duke currently has the No. 1 2020 recruiting class as they have already landed five commitments. Consensus top-30 prospects Jalen Johnson, Jeremy Roach, and DJ Steward lead the way for the Devils’ class. Power forwards Jaemyn Brakefield and Henry Coleman also have verbally committed to the Blue Devils. Roach, Brakefield, and Coleman also attended the event.
However, coach Mike Krzyzewski is reportedly still hunting for another big man despite not currently having any scholarships available to give out. Obviously, that will change if Tre Jones, Vernon Carey or Matthew Hurt chooses to bolt for the NBA following the upcoming season.
Duke has just three outstanding open offers to 7-footers Dickinson and Mark Williams along with small forward Ziaire Williams.
Hunter Dickinson
The 7-2 center is down to four schools with Michigan, Florida State, and Notre Dame also in the mix. He has already made official visits to the other three finalists after making the trip to South Bend on Oct. 13. Michigan is considered the favorite though there appears to be some wiggle room with the confidence level that he will choose the Wolverines at 55%, per
, and 67% according to 247Sports. The Wolverines got a huge commitment from five-star 6-10 forward
on Oct. 17.
Duke is a latecomer to Dickinson’s recruiting party. The Blue Devils just offered the Hyattsville (MD) native late last month after being rejected by 7-footer Walker Kessler, who ultimately chose to commit to UNC. Krzyzewski and his band of merry men conducted an in-home visit with Dickinson on Sept. 29.
Dickinson has graded out as a four-star prospect by all four major recruiting services. Both ESPN and 247Sports Composite has the Dematha Catholic product ranked No. 36 in the nation. Meanwhile, he is ranked No. 34 in the country by 247Sports and No. 38 by Rivals.
The big southpaw possesses a wide-body and an advanced interior skill set. He can score from the low-block and high-post where he is also a strong passer. In addition, Dickinson has shown to be a good positional defender and rebounder.
Paola Banchero
A top-5 2021 recruit, Banchero has already taken visits to UNC (Sept. 27) and Kentucky (Oct. 11). He is slated to take two other officials this year to Tennessee (Oct. 27) and Gonzaga (Jan. 17). The 6-9 power forward, who holds over 15 offers, also has drawn major interest from Baylor, Georgetown, Memphis, Michigan, and Washington. Washington is currently seen as the overwhelming favorites to obtain his services.
The Seattle (Wash.) native is not a huge post player, weighing in at 235 pounds, but does possess decent length and a durable frame, according to 247Sports. Banchero can score in the low-post where he has a nice touch. However, he is the most efficient when he operates out of the high post as he can knock down jumpers, beat post defenders off the dribble, and hit cutters. The O’Dea high school product is also a terrific rebounder and capable rim protector.
There is a chance that Banchero reclassifies to 2020.
A.J. Griffin
Griffin has seen his stock rise over the last four months, picking up an offer from Kentucky on Oct. 10. The 6-7 small forward now holds 19 offers, although Duke, Villanova, and Kentucky seem to have the inside track on his recruitment at this point. He took an official visit to Villanova on Oct. 4. The White Plains (N.Y.) native has received in-home visits from Kentucky’s John Calipari, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, and Villanova’s Jay Wright. Griffin took an unofficial visit to Seton Hall in 2018.
The Archbishop Stepinac product is ranked as the No. 8 prospect in 2021 by 247Sports Composite and No. 5 by 247Sports, which is two and three spots, respectively since July. He also has moved up a spot in ESPN’s rankings from No. 11 to No. 10.
Mark Williams
Williams was not at Countdown to Craziness, but he will make an official visit next Friday (Oct. 25) and is expected to make his decision Nov. 1. Duke is the overwhelming favorites to land the 7-footer Norfork (VA) native. Although it will be interesting what he does if Dickinson commits to the Blue Devils this weekend.
UCLA and Michigan are still possibilities for Williams. He has taken officials to both places the past month-and-a-half.
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Projecting the order of the four prospects of picking Duke: 1. Williams 2. Griffin 3. Banchero (if he does not reclassify) 4. Dickinson