NCAA Basketball: Early tournament games in 2020-21 to get excited about

Duke vs Memphis at the Battle 4 Atlantic

Last season Penny Hardaway signed the number one ranked recruiting class in just his first year as an NCAA head coach, this year, nobody. Last year Coach K got the third-highest ranked freshmen class to sign with Duke Basketball in his 44th year as an NCAA coach, this year, the second-highest ranked recruiting class will be suiting up for Duke.

Some may question whether Penny Hardaway has lost his AAU pull or not, but after a disappointing season and a fifth-place finish in the AAC, Memphis Basketball is hoping their returning players and returning coach will improve with a season under their belts. With just one senior on the roster, the Tigers will consist of that great recruiting class, with one major exception, James Wiseman. Fortunately, they have experience playing without the seven-foot- one center and will continue to do so as he goes to the NBA.

Duke, on the other hand, has important faces leaving and six new ones arriving. Seniors Javin DeLaurier, and Jack White played 15 and 13 minutes off the bench respectively while senior forward Justin Robinson’s role was limited in seven minutes. The hardest pill to swallow for Coach K and the Cameron Crazies is that point guard Tre Jones officially declared for the 2020 NBA Draft and is projected to go late in the first round.

Those disappointed about Jones are also holding their breath until 18 ppg player Vernon Carey Jr. makes a decision on his playing future. As well, the other four starters are either testing the waters or are projected to get drafted. Matthew Hurt (10 ppg) is considering making the jump, whereas Cassius Stanley and Wendell Moore Jr. have made no indication of leaving, but are projected as possibly being second-round selections. In addition, guard Alex O’Connell has made his desire to transfer official.

The decisions by the underclassmen will either create room for the recruits coming in or give Coach K an embarrassment of riches. Duke will be welcoming five-star recruits Jalen Johnson who is ranked 11th and is projected as a future lottery pick while already getting comparisons to Paul George. Other five-star recruits are guards Jeremy Roach and DJ Steward.

7’0 Mark Williams may only be a four-star, but is a top-30 recruit and is projected to develop into an NBA draft pick. Jaemyn Brakefield and Henry Coleman who come in as top-50 recruits are also projected to be NBA Draft picks. Regardless of the underclassmen decisions, this Duke team is going to be interesting, perhaps unstoppable,