Duke Basketball: 5 biggest storylines to watch for 2022-23 season

2. Will any of the transfers have a sizeable impact?

With the No. 1 incoming recruiting class, all the attention will certainly be on the freshman for Duke. But there is a trio of transfers that came via the portal this offseason. Of the three Kale Catchings (Harvard) is the least likely to see meaningful minutes this season. He’s a 6’6 combo forward that averaged 9.1 ppg and 4.0 rpg, while shooting 37% from three-point range. But with so much frontcourt depth on this roster that is much more athletic on both ends, it’s hard to see where he fits once Whitehead is healthy and in the rotation.

Another wing option the Blue Devils have brought in is Jacob Grandison, who started at Illinois last season and produced 9.6 ppg and 4.5 rpg, while shooting 41% from three-point range. That element is what the team needed the most since not many of the freshmen have reputations of being elite quality shooters outside. He’s also a 6’6 wing that can play both the shooting guard and small forward positions. With Whitehead out, he could very well start on opening night.

The guy that has fallen under the radar is Ryan Young, a 6’10 transfer forward from Northwestern. Pete Nance was the star in the Wildcats’ frontcourt but Young was highly effective coming off the bench, averaging 9.4 ppg and 4.2 rpg in just 17 mpg. He doesn’t spread the floor and is an okay defender but is a low-post scoring option and a veteran that can be trusted.

Because there is a trio of five-star frontcourt freshmen on the roster, the belief is that Young’s minutes will look more like Catchings instead of Grandison’s. But with Lively currently hurt and may not play a ton of minutes at first, there’s a chance that Young not only is a clear part of the rotation but may even start on opening night.