NCAA Basketball: Top 25 frontcourts for 2020-21 season

The Blue Devils have continued to churn out one-and-done talent in recent seasons and are looking to bring their incoming group along quickly. Matthew Hurt is the lone holdover from last year’s class in the frontcourt and he will look to follow the sophomore breakout path that point guard Tre Jones displayed in 2019.

Hurt was the best pure shooter on last year’s squad and was by no means underwhelming, but as the “veteran” on this year’s team, he needs to ramp up his aggression to improve his draft stock.

Freshman center Mark Williams is unlikely to be a huge offensive presence when considering the projected lineup this year. However, he will be a dominating rim protector for the Blue Devils and is going to clean the glass. Williams will be afforded extra scoring opportunities when defenses collapse on Jalen Johnson or other ball-handlers driving the lane.

Duke also signed a sort of ‘Thunder and Lightning’ combo in Henry Coleman and Jaemyn Brakefield. Coleman has not received as much fanfare as other members of this class, but he’s a freight train moving downhill and can elevate over defenders at the rim.

Brakefield on the other hand displays a lot of mobility that makes him a versatile piece in the rotation. He possesses the quickness to operate on the perimeter and put the ball on the floor but also has enough physicality to find success inside the paint.

Elder statesman Joey Baker is back for his junior season but is facing a similar uphill battle competing for minutes with incoming freshmen. He’s a reliable and experienced piece for Coach K to utilize, as he brings along his newcomers to ACC-level basketball.

Duke’s frontcourt has plenty of talent and will get the job done this season, but comparatively speaking with their backcourt have will continue to fly under the radar.