Duke’s latest freshman class feels different from the groups built around Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer. There may not be one first-year player expected to dominate every national conversation. The advantage for Jon Scheyer is that Duke may not need one.
The Blue Devils welcome five scholarship freshmen in Deron Rippey Jr., Bryson Howard, Cameron Williams, Maxime Meyer and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje. Preferred walk-on Nick Arnold gives the class a sixth member.
The depth chart
A detailed Duke Basketball Report preview outlined how the group could give Scheyer a legitimate 12-player rotation.
Rippey is a 6-foot-2 guard with a reported 40-inch vertical leap. His speed, defensive intensity and ability to create transition opportunities should give Duke another option when Scheyer wants to pressure opposing ball-handlers.
Howard, the son of former Wake Forest and NBA standout Josh Howard, adds length and shooting.
At 6-foot-4 with a reported 6-foot-11 wingspan, Howard possesses the physical profile to defend multiple backcourt positions. His shooting could help him earn minutes even when Duke’s rotation becomes more defined.
The frontcourt prospects may be even more intriguing.
Williams is a mobile 7-footer with perimeter potential and shot-blocking instincts. Meyer stands 7-foot-1 with a 7-foot-3 wingspan and brings passing ability unusual for a player his size.
The wildcard
Boumtje Boumtje may possess the highest long-term ceiling of the group.
The 7-foot-2, 250-pound left-hander developed with FC Barcelona and combines shooting, passing and movement skills. His versatility could allow him to function as a modern frontcourt creator rather than a traditional interior player.
Duke’s challenge will be converting all that depth into clarity.
A 12-player rotation sounds wonderful before the season. It becomes more complicated when games tighten and talented players begin expecting consistent minutes.
Scheyer must identify combinations that complement one another while maintaining enough flexibility to handle injuries and different opponents.
The Blue Devils’ size could create particularly unusual lineups.
Duke can play with traditional interior strength or move skilled big men away from the basket without sacrificing rim protection. Scheyer also can increase the defensive pressure by placing Rippey and Howard alongside Duke’s experienced guards.
A lot to like in Durham
That versatility may compensate for the absence of one freshman expected to become an immediate national player of the year candidate.
Flagg and Boozer gave previous Duke teams obvious centers of gravity. This freshman class could make the Blue Devils more difficult to scout because the answer changes depending on the matchup.
Scheyer’s best team may not feature one celebrated newcomer carrying the program.
It may feature five freshmen solving different problems.
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