NCAA Basketball: Ranking the top 25 team backcourts for 2022-23 season

The Blue Devils have another No. 1 recruiting class but this group is fairly frontcourt heavy, with four five-star prospects. The one guard of that group is Dariq Whitehead, a 6’5 guard/wing and High School McDonald’s All-American who is a consensus top-5 overall prospect and quality all-around athlete who could very well lead the team in scoring next season.

Duke also has a couple other top-100 freshmen in Jaden Schutt, as well as Tyrese Proctor, a top-25 combo guard that reclassified to play next season as a backup guard. It remains to be seen his potential impact but he adds to the backcourt depth.

Another newcomer guard is Jacob Grandison, a 6’5 transfer from Illinois, coming off a season of averaging 9.6 ppg and 2.3 apg in 23 starts, shooting 41% from three-point range. He’s entering his 6th season and adds a veteran presence to the backcourt and a legit three-point range.

The overall success of the backcourt will come down to rising junior point guard Jeremy Roach. The 6’1 point guard has been on and off the bench in the past couple of years, averaging 8.7 ppg and 3.2 apg on offense. His inconsistencies have affected his role but Roach had a fantastic March, including some big performances in the NCAA Tournament.

If Roach plays as he did in the Big Dance, Duke will be a national-title contender and the backcourt will be among the best. But if he struggles and Proctor isn’t ready to be a true point guard as a freshman, the team won’t be a contender.