Men's ACC Basketball Preview 2018

november 2, 2018

HENRY HAGGART /THE CHRONICLE

the chronicle’s 2018-19 men’s basketball season preview

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Who’s the captain?

Editor: Michael Model

Javin DeLaurier and Jack White bring vocal leadership | PAGE 5

Managing Editor: Winston Lindqwister

All-around athlete Zion Williamson looks to prove he’s more than a dunker during his time at Duke | PAGE 6

Reclassify to redshirt?

Breaking down Joey Baker’s intentions of joining the 2018-19 Blue Devils | PAGE 7

Making the case Which of Duke’s key returners should join the top four freshmen in the starting lineup | PAGE 10

Blog Editors: Derek Saul, Conner McLeod Photo Editors: Henry Haggart, Juan Bermudez Associate Editors: Hank Tucker, Mitchell Gladstone, Ben Feder, Liz Finny, Dilan Trivedi, Emily Davis, Spencer Levy, Jason Atwood, Sid Bhaskara Staff Writers: Merle Nye, Shane Smith, Glen Morgenstern, Michael Xue, Evan Kolin, Karthik Ramachandran, Dani Yan, Caroline Kassir, Anne Crabill, Jake Roth, Ramona Naseri, Benjamin Chen, Daniel Landa Special thanks to: Graphic designer Jeremy Chen, Editor-in-Chief Bre Bradham, Photo Editor Sujal Manohar and the entire Chronicle Photo Department, General Manager Chrissy Beck, Ad Director Julie Moore

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VOCAL LEADERSHIP

WHO’S THE CAPTAIN NOW?

Duke men’s basketball veterans Jack White and Javin DeLaurier setting example for young core

By Michael Model Sports Editor

The biggest consequence of the oneand-done era—having to reset the starting lineup every season—is nothing new for the Blue Devils.

The need to find leadership amongst players who’ve combined for less than 10 career starts, however, marks uncharted territory.

Since the 2014-15 season—the unofficial start of Duke’s reliance on freshmen talent— the Blue Devils have had a constant stream of experienced, veteran starters ready to take the helm. Quinn Cook, Amile Jefferson, Matt Jones and Grayson Allen were already staples of their respective starting lineups and had been crucial role players in seasons prior.

But after losing all five starters to the NBA Draft—including Allen, last year’s sole captain—Duke’s leadership structure has a much different look this time around. “[They] set a great example for me,” junior Javin DeLaurier said. “Those guys have talked to me a lot about really just trying to be a leader. I think myself and the rest of the upperclassmen are pretty prepared.”

DeLaurier and classmate Jack White were named captains for the 2018-19 Blue Devils last week. DeLaurier had the larger role of the two last season, earning five starts on the season while playing nearly 13 minutes a contest. The Shipman, Va., native has also emerged as one of Duke’s best defenders and become one of the team’s more vocal leaders.

In order for DeLaurier to take the next step

Ian Jaffe | Special Projects Photography Editor

Jack White has gained the captainship despite never having started a game in his career as a Blue Devil. as a player, though, he’ll need to continue to improve as an offensive threat. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged just 3.4 points per contest last season and has made just one of his nine career 3-point attempts. Although DeLaurier’s deficiencies have enabled defenses to focus on the other four players in the past, he seems to have made strides in that department during the offseason, showing his range during the Blue Devils’ exhibition slate.

“One of my biggest strengths is my talk and my voice, and being able to talk to these young guys and communicate makes things flow a

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little better when I’m on the court,” DeLaurier said of his impact on the team at Duke media day last month. “It might not be anything that I’m doing in particular, but if you help guys work as a unit, then everything’s going to look a lot better and everyone looks good.”

White is the more intriguing of the selections, after averaging less than six minutes per game and a mere 0.8 points per contest during the 2017-18 season. The choice of the Australian is especially interesting because Krzyzewski passed over a significant role player in junior Marques Bolden.

Bolden has played the most of the junior class throughout his career and is the Blue Devils’ largest interior presence entering the season. Krzyzewski seemed to take issue with the DeSoto, Texas, native’s performance during the Duke Canada Tour, benching Bolden midway through the series due to poor decision-making on the court.

On the other hand, White has been trending up both on and off the court. On the hardwood, the 6-foot-7 forward has improved all around, using his tough practice assignments to grow as a defender and become more physical.

Offensively, White appears to have found more consistency and confidence as a perimeter shooter. He scored 11 points, including two triples Oct. 23 against Virginia Union.

“Playing against great teammates every day, guarding since my freshman year, Jason, Matt, Grayson, to last year, Gary, and all these guys, I’m guarding great talent every day,” White said at ACC media day. “That experience for me has been great. I wanted to come here to challenge myself, and I knew that was going to help me get better as a player.”

Off the court, White and DeLaurier have worked hard to integrate the new freshmen into the brotherhood, needing to grow an entirely new culture with nearly half of last year’s squad no longer on the roster.

The team has benefited from the freshmen coming in already close with their group chat during the recruiting cycle. In addition, the Blue Devils participated in various team-building See CAPTAINS on Page 17

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ALL-AROUND ATHLETE

Williamson reintroducing himself as a unique talent

By Mitchell Gladstone Sports Features Editor

In choosing his intro music for Countdown to Craziness, Zion Williamson was deliberate. At 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, the freshman isn’t the most fleet of foot, at least when it comes to dancing—instead, he chose to send a message.

The very first line of JAY-Z’s 2003 hit Public Service Announcement: ‘Allow me to reintroduce myself.’

“People think that I’m just a dunker,” Williamson said. “So, when he says allow me to reintroduce myself, I feel like I have to reintroduce myself to the world that I’m a basketball player—I’m not [just] a dunker.”

Of course, Williamson is known as a highflyer. His senior season hoop mixtape has pulled in nearly two million views on YouTube, his Instagram now has 1.8 million followers and fans will have their eyes peeled during Duke’s layup lines each game—all because of Williamson’s dunking abilities.

So, it was only appropriate that when the Blue Devils kicked off their exhibition tour in Canada this summer, the superstar rookie came out and drilled three of his four 3-point attempts and dished out four assists to lead Duke in both categories. Williamson capped the trip with a 36-point, 13-rebound effort against McGill and he’s led the Blue Devils in scoring during both of their two preseason contests.

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski went so far as to call Williamson “the best athlete he’s ever coached” at ACC media day last week.

Very quickly, the well of Williamson superlatives is running dry.

“He never takes a play off,” Krzyzewski said of Williamson. “He’s in unbelievable shape.

He’s probably about 270 [pounds], his lateral quickness is off the chart…. He’s got such a great attitude. He’s smart. There’s not a thing this kid is lacking. He’s already very good, but he’s going to be a special, special player his whole career, not just at Duke. He’s got it.

“You can’t say he’s like somebody—he’s not like anybody. He’s like Zion.”

Figuring out who Williamson is, though, is something that remains to be seen.

For certain, he’s going to score—often in thunderous, powerful fashion from well above the rim. But it isn’t always going to be like high school where Williamson often bullied his way to success on both ends of the floor. The Spartanburg, S.C., native is just one piece of a talented group that will often need him to serve as a distributor.

At a distance, that might seem a tough task for Williamson. The former No. 2 recruit is often the center of attention, and anywhere else, Williamson would be far and away the focal point of the offense.

And yet, he’s quite fine with being that passer.

“He can really distribute the ball, and every time the ball gets into his hands, he’s a really smart player,” said junior Jack White when asked what’s impressed him most about Williamson. “He always seems to make the right play. He makes his teammates better.

He’s a great guy off the floor to be around, great locker room guy. You know, I can’t speak highly enough of him.”

When Duke’s roster went live online just before the team’s trip to Canada, the internet was abuzz. Williamson, at 285 pounds, already weighed more than every player currently

Henry Haggart | Sports Photography Editor

Zion Williamson has electrified crowds in the early going with his ability to throw down a highlight-reel dunk at any time. in the NBA other than Los Angeles Clippers center Boban Marjanovic, who measures in at 7-foot-3 and 290 pounds.

Krzyzewski did his best to quell any concerns that Williamson might be overweight, but it wasn’t until the Blue Devils hit the court that fans and reporters could see why 285 was just a number.

The size is something that Williamson’s had to figure out ever since his junior year of high school, and it seems like the freshman more than has things together—at Countdown to Craziness last month, Williamson picked up the Iron Devil award given to Duke’s winner of the offseason

strength and conditioning program.

“When I grew in size and grew in height, I found myself being able to do things that I couldn’t do before,” Williamson said. “I loved to attack the basket before, but I had to do certain finishes, so my shot wouldn’t get blocked. Now, I try to emulate [Michael] Jordan and LeBron [James] with how their body control is with their strength and their athleticism and how they’re able to hang in the air.”

For as intense as Williamson often looks on the court, he’s got a different side when he and See WILLIAMSON on Page 17

REDEFINING ROLES

It’s time to stop glossing over Cam Reddish

By Winston Lindqwister Sports Managing Editor

It’s safe to say that Duke is the only team where the No. 3 player in the Class of 2018 could be glossed over on talking points.

Yet on a team with names like Zion Williamson and R.J. Barrett, it’s easy to lose track of all of the talent sitting in Durham.

But of the Blue Devils’ highly talented freshman class, Cam Reddish stands apart as one of the most important pieces to Duke’s upcoming campaign, even if he does not come with the same pomp and circumstance as some

of his peers.

Reddish has been on Duke’s radar since 2015. Moments after winning the NCAA tournament, Blue Devil assistant coach Jon Scheyer called the then-high schooler, proclaiming that Duke had just won a national championship and Reddish would help them win another one. Two years later after a series of visits, scouted practices and high school summer league tournaments, the Norristown, Pa., native inked his name down as the second Blue Devil of the Class of 2018.

“When I came here, I felt everything,” Reddish said of finally committing to Duke.

Henry Haggart | Sports Photography Editor

Cam Reddish has shown a strong passing ability, racking up 16 assists during the preseason.

“I fell in love with [Duke] when I first stepped on campus and everything about it has been perfect with me. The coaches have been straight up with me from the jump and that stood out to me. I thought it was the best decision for me.

Putting on a Duke jersey meant a lot. I worked so hard to get to this point and it was nothing but a blessing.”

Joining fellow five-star recruit Tre Jones— who committed a month earlier—Reddish instantly went to work in helping build his future team. The two freshmen began talking to Barrett and Williamson about potentially building a squad out in Durham, and in time the pieces began to fall into place. Barrett was the next to sign on in early November, and Williamson shocked the nation with a seemingly last-second decision to become a Blue Devil, cementing the freshman class as arguably one of the most talented of all time.

With all of the young talent concentrated at Duke, it may seem that the soft-spoken Reddish is at risk of being swallowed up and overshadowed by his star-power teammates.

However, the 6-foot-8 forward complements his fellow signees perfectly, rounding out some glaring weaknesses in the lineup while also having his own shortcomings compensated for.

Simply put, Reddish gets buckets.

Billed by some as the top small forward in his class, Reddish has made a name for himself in recruiting circuits for his dead-eye shots from deep and ability to finish at the basket.

Frequently compared to the likes of Paul George, the Blue Devil freshman is a muchneeded deep threat for Duke, with questions surrounding Barrett, Williamson, and Jones’ 3-point strokes.

Although Reddish’s shooting has appeared to be cold at times in Duke’s preseason games—he made just eight of 22 field goals and only five of 16 shots from downtown—Blue Devil head coach Mike Krzyzewski has attributed this slump to a minor rib fracture. And if anything, Reddish’s teammates are far from worried.

“Cam is just so smooth, really smooth scorer and he’s a surprisingly good facilitator as well,” junior captain Javin DeLaurier said.

“You’d think a guy who scores like that in high school doesn’t want to pass the ball, but he’s always willing to dish it out, so it’s been a lot of fun playing with those guys.”

Outside of his shooting, Reddish has the versatility in his game to round out any rough edges with his team. Measuring in at a 7-foot1 wingspan in the middle of 2017, the Duke freshman has the length to guard any wing he’s assigned as well and can easily snag rebounds right off the glass. With experience playing at the one to the four, Reddish brings a little bit of everything to his team and is comfortable adopting head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s “positionless” basketball.

With the likes of Barrett and Williamson driving much of the offensive energy, Reddish’s willingness as a passer will become especially important, as some have wondered how the Blue Devils plan on dividing time on the ball between so many talented players.

“Oh it’s fun, it’s good because we all got great feels for each other,” Williamson said of playing with Reddish and the rest of his high-powered class. “We all want to make each other better... [Krzyzewski’s] kind of why we See REDDISH on Page 17

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RECLASSIFY TO REDSHIRT?

Duke freshman Joey Baker a case study in reclassification

By Conner McLeod Blue Zone Editor

Amidst the excitement of one of the best recruiting classes in college basketball history, something important, and yet relatively under the radar, happened: the reclassification of freshman Joey Baker.

Originally a member of the high school class of 2019, Baker committed to Duke Oct. 29, 2017, just 28 days after Duke offered the small forward from Fayetteville, N.C. With some of the best freshmen in Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish, Tre Jones and R.J. Barrett already committed to the Blue Devils at the start of last May, Duke fans figured their 2018-19 team was set in stone—until Baker decided to forgo his senior year of high school and come to Durham a year early.

This year will mark the second consecutive season in which a five-star recruit reclassified to play in a higher class for the Blue Devils, with 2018 ACC Player of the Year Marvin Bagley III doing the same for last year’s team.

Unlike Bagley, however, Baker did not retain his five-star status for his new class, as his ranking dropped from No. 13 to No. 41.

The maneuver brought up questions about Baker’s motivations for the decision, and whether he would even get any playing time for this year.

After playing 44 minutes during Duke’s Canada trip and a combined 21 minutes in Duke’s two exhibition games, the possibility of head coach Mike Krzyzewski choosing to redshirt Baker for this year remains viable, but somewhat unlikely. Nonetheless, it is clear that Baker did not reclassify to start and play a

SMART PHONE

Charles York | Special Projects Photography Editor

Joey Baker decided to reclassify to the Class of 2018 last May, joining an already loaded recruiting class. big role for the Blue Devils—at least this year.

Instead, he hopes to develop and grow as a basketball player, with plenty of help from his classmates and coaches.

“Pretty much the whole reason is just getting better throughout the year,” Baker said. “Learning from Coach, it’s such a great coaching staff. They’ve been through what we’re going through and they know all the ins and outs so I’m just learning from them.”

SMART CAR

It’s undeniable that practicing with and against Duke’s loaded freshman class—a foursome of potential NBA all-stars—will help Baker improve his game significantly more than going against high-schoolers. By reclassifying, Baker will also receive valuable experience and mentorship from being around Duke’s upperclassmen, especially junior captain Jack White, who raved about Baker’s hard-working mentality.

“I see a lot of myself in him since day

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one, same as all the freshmen, it’s the same,” White said. “It’s a credit to him and the work he’s put in, really buying into the system, and working out how he can really contribute to the team and help us win. He’s done a great job, and I’m really excited to see how he’s going to continue to improve as the season goes on.”

Krzyzewski has echoed White’s sentiments, demonstrating that he also thinks highly of the young forward. With all the positive reviews, it would not be surprising to see Baker’s improvement from summer practices earn him some time on the floor. He is projected to be one of Duke’s better spot-up shooters along with White and sophomore Alex O’Connell.

Whether the Trinity Christian School product plays or not this year, and whatever his reasoning was to enter college a year early, the net result should be positive.

Baker’s enthusiasm to develop and willingness to sacrifice parts of his life for basketball, should provide Blue Devil fans a jolt of optimism.

Baker will most likely stay at Duke for at least his sophomore year, and with a season of tough ACC play and NCAA tournament experience under his belt, could be ready to lead another Krzyzewski team to great success—similar to the path of Grayson Allen.

“There’s no days off...if you take a day off here, you’re gonna get exposed, so you’re just bringing your best every day,” Baker said. “You pick up ways to survive and have success out there so you’re just kind of just learning and trying to stay afloat. And it’s working, you know? I’m just learning so much from the coaching staff and the rest of the players.”

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1. VIRGINIA With four starters returning, the nation’s best defensive team looks poised to maintain its position atop the ACC.

2017-18 record: 31-3, 17-1 in the ACC Head coach: Tony Bennett Tenure at Virginia: 10th season Career coaching record: 219–86 Home court: John Paul Jones Arena Starters: G Ty Jerome, G Kyle Guy, C Jack Salt, F Mamadi Diakite, F De’Andre Hunter

Led by the dynamic backcourt of Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy, as well the mid-season emergence of ACC Sixth Man of the Year De’Andre Hunter, last year’s Cavaliers started the season unranked but rode their defensive excellence to an ACC tournament victory and the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. Of course, Virginia suffered a historic first-round 74-54 defeat at the hands of UMBC , becoming the first No. 1 seed ever to lose to a No. 16 seed. With Hunter back from the wrist injury that held him out of that game and the backcourt returning, the Cavaliers retain their core trio of star power that

2. DUKE The Blue Devils replace all five starters with the nation’s top recruting class.

2017-18 record: 29-8, 13-5 in the ACC Head coach: Mike Krzyzewski Tenure at Duke: 39th season Career coaching record: 1,100-338 Home Court: Cameron Indoor Stadium Starters: F Zion Williamson, F Cam Reddish, G Tre Jones, F RJ Barrett, F Javin DeLaurier Duke fans have been anticipating this season since the freshmen recruits committed last fall. With five newcomers, including three of the top five recruits in the nation, excitement is brewing for what this season will hold. As all of last season’s starters have moved onto the NBA, there are five open spots on the court for a team stacked with quality players. Duke hasn’t replaced its entire starting lineup since the 1958-59 season, so it’s safe to say this year’s on-court dynamic will be completely different from last season. With the all the hype over the talent of the incoming class, the Blue Devils were ranked a promising fourth place in the Associated Press’ preseason poll.

Already, Duke’s young team has shown its potential t o dominate. Zion Williamson and R J Barrett blew through the Blue Devils’ opponents in Canada thanks to their high athleticism and strong chemistry. Expect the same high energy output on the court all season. Again showing the emphasis on the freshmen, Barrett, Williamson and Cam Reddish scored 43 of the 52 points in the first half of their preseason game against Virginia Union. Although the attention has primarily been on the new Blue Devils, veterans to the team are also expected to be key players in this season. As Javin DeLaurier and Marques Bolden are both juniors on the team, they will be relied on for valuable experience in hostile NCAA environments, a shortcoming that historically plagues young teams. While DeLaurier was on the bench during the Virginia Union game due to an ankle injury, Bolden had six points and six rebounds.

—Ramona Naseri

makes them a contender once again.

For Virginia, the key to success this season will be learning from the mistakes that haunted it in that UMBC game. While Bennett’s famed “pack-line” defense will ensure the team is once again among the nation’s best defensively, the Cavaliers have high expectations for offensive improvement led by their star trio, as well as Alabama transfer Braxton Key. Incoming recruits Kody Stattmann and Kihei Clark should add some scoring production as well.

—Benjamin Chen

Kyle Guy

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MAKING T

Who should join Barrett, Jones, Reddish and W ALEX O’CONNELL No matter how athletic and talented Duke’s quartet of freshmen prove to be, head coach Mike Krzyzewski will need reliable outside shooting to effectively execute his five-out motion offense.

With R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish and Tre Jones all relatively unproven beyond the arc, Krzyzewski would be wise to slot in sharpshooter Alex O’Connell in at the fifth starting position.

Last season, O’Connell led the team in 3-point field goal percentage, as he connected on 48.9 percent of his attempts from deep, and ranked third in the ACC among players that saw action in 15 or more games.

O’Connell provided instant offense off the bench when he was called upon in his freshman season, and energized his teammates with his performance. Duke won 15 of the 16 contests in which he notched 10 or more minutes, with the sole loss coming against North Carolina, a game in which O’Connell knocked down a trio of 3-pointers on five attempts.

“I have a year of experience under my belt,” O’Connell said. “This year I feel a lot

JACK WHITE

more comfortable and confident coming in and being a spark for these new young guys.”

Aside from O’Connell, no other returning Blue Devils can reliably stretch the floor, as the other veterans shot a combined 25 percent from outside in 2017-18.

Despite his immense offensive talent, there is a reason why the Roswell, Ga., native failed to maintain a consistent role a year ago—O’Connell struggled to stay disciplined on the defensive end. He ranked second-tolast in terms of defensive win shares and steals per 100 possessions among Duke guards.

“For Alex, movement is great, thinking before you move is even better because it makes the movement you’re doing smarter,’’ Krzyzewski said. “Not moving is not the right thing, but moving without thinking might even be worse. In other words, there has to be patience and making reads when you do not have the ball is a very tough thing for young players to learn.”

Although O’Connell remains on the fringe of the Blue Devil rotation—the four freshmen, Jack White, Javin DeLaurier and Marques Bolden all appear to be ahead of him—it will be hard for Krzyzewski to ignore the 6-foot-6 guard if his offensive production continues. Besides, what’s more fun to watch than an über-athletic, goofy guard that can shoot?

­ —Derek Saul

JAVIN DELAURIER With a team undoubtedly headlined by its freshman class, it’s easy to forget about the upperclassmen. And although Javin DeLaurier may not have the same flashy highlights or monster numbers as the rest of his teammates, he will undoubtedly prove his worth as the glue that holds Krzyzewski’s squad together.

Last year’s numbers don’t do DeLaurier justice. On the surface, his 3.4 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game seem unremarkable for someone looking to slot into a team brimming with NBA-level talent. However, of the returners from last season, DeLaurier led in rebounds and finished just shy of Bolden in points. Furthermore, the Shipman, Va., native saw the most floor time of any upperclassman last season, leading with 419 minutes on the hardwood with the next highest being Bolden and O’Connell with 373.

However, what’s most exciting about DeLaurier isn’t just what he brings from last year, but also how much he has developed as a player.

The Achilles’ heel to DeLaurier’s game last season was his shooting ability. Because the forward could seemingly only score from the paint, smart defenders would routinely peel off DeLaurier when he was at the perimeter and instead doubleteam one of Duke’s more dangerous weapons. From the outset this season, the Blue Devil captain has made it a point to make sure no defender backs off him again.

“I came in over the summer and I was watching film or

replays of old games where I’d just angry with how teams would disregard me on the perimeter and essentially just play 5-on-4, and I just thought that was so disrespectful,” DeLaurier said. “So I got back in the gym and I got my confidence back with my shot just by a lot of repetitions. This year, I would just come in and not even hesitate and knock it down” In Duke’s Countdown to Craziness scrimmage, DeLaurier drained two of four shots from long range— already doubling the number of three-pointers made last season. Although it’s unlikely the junior Blue Devil will be billed as a major outside threat, the development of DeLaurier’s shot will help spread the floor and keep lanes open for Duke’s many slashers in the frontcourt.

Numbers aside, the greatest asset DeLaurier brings to the Blue Devils is leadership and communication. As one of the few upperclassmen on the team, DeLaurier has seen it all, from hostile arenas to down-to-the-wire finishes. As a high-energy player and vocal leader, the junior will be crucial in keeping the Duke freshmen level-headed and motivated in the toughest of environments.

“I think [Javin] does it better than anybody on our team,” Krzyzewski said of DeLaurier’s communication and leadership.

“His voice is a good, strong voice, and he’s become smart.”

—Winston Lindqwister

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THE CASE

Williamson in the Blue Devils’ starting lineup?

JACK WHITE Jack White is a bit of an oddity as a fifth-man option for the Blue Devils. Slotting him into the lineup would make Cam Reddish the tallest starter, forcing Duke to have a somewhat undersized presence at the five. Against lengthy teams like Syracuse, this sort of lineup could spell disaster. However, there are still merits to starting the Australian, especially against smaller teams.

At 6-foot-7 and 222 pounds, White makes up for his lack of height with a surprising amount of width, allowing for him to match up in defending traditional wings. In fact, the junior forward’s greatest strength is his sound defensive instincts, earning a solid 6.2 defensive box plus-minus last season.

For a team that could run as many as four freshmen at a time on the court, a veteran defensive presence will be crucial in counteracting some of the likely rookie mistakes.

On the offensive end, setting White as the fifth man is a bit of a gamble, as he does not have the stats to suggest he’ll have a huge amount of production. Last season, he struggled from the perimeter, making less than 20 percent of his threes. However, Krzyzewski has repeatedly

billed White as a threat from downtown. For a team with question marks surrounding three of its starters’ outside shots, steady shooting from the Blue Devil junior would greatly enhance Duke’s offensive potential.

“I’ve improved on a lot of things this year and my role has been expanded,” White said after Countdown to Craziness, where he posted four rebounds but only attempted one field goal.

“Rebounds obviously showed tonight. Just defending, being a leader, and being able to make open shots. I didn’t get any tonight, but during the year, making open threes will be essential, especially around guys who are so talented at getting to the bucket.”

One aspect of White’s game that has been consistent throughout his Duke career is crashing the glass. Just a week ago against Ferris State, White notched six rebounds over 20 minutes of play, using his wider frame to wrestle loose balls away from opponents. Although Williamson and Barrett have plenty of verticality in their game, the extra ability at the glass will help keep the Blue Devil offense flowing and provide more second- and thirdchance opportunities.

—Winston Lindqwister

MARQUES BOLDEN Marques Bolden entered Duke with high expectations— the second-ranked center in the Class of 2016 earned Texas Mr. Basketball honors and was projected by some as a firstround pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

However, Bolden’s freshman season proved to be disastrous, and the 6-foot-11 center averaged just 6.5 minutes per game following his return from a leg injury that held him out for the first eight games of the year.

Even though Bolden did not reach his full potential last season, he demonstrated progress in his game. Per 100 possessions, he nearly doubled his rebounds and blocks while cutting his personal fouls in half. Bolden also improved his field goal percentage from a subpar 45.7 percent in 2016-17 to an acceptable 61.5 percent mark last year.

The junior has shown even further strides in his skills, and Krzyzewski has taken notice, slotting Bolden into a starting role in the team’s exhibition games against Virginia Union and Ferris State.

“Lately, I’ve been showing my energy level, talk and activeness,” Bolden said. “With my size, my strength, I feel like I’m able to guard multiple positions.”

Surprisingly, Bolden enters this year as the most experienced Blue Devil, as his 530 career minutes are the most of anybody on the roster, just ahead of

DeLaurier. Nonetheless, White and DeLaurier were named captains for Duke, indicating that Bolden still has work to do on becoming a veteran leader for the team.

The DeSoto, Texas, native will need to be more vocal on the defensive end, where he may have his biggest role on the squad. In 2017-18, Bolden ranked fourth on the team among regulars in defensive rating, trailing only Wendell Carter Jr., DeLaurier and White.

With a freshmen-heavy Blue Devil team, the soft-spoken Bolden will need to hone his leadership skills.

“It’s definitely different going from just coming to campus and asking all the questions to being the one that people ask the questions,” Bolden said. “It’s definitely an adjustment, but I feel like I’m handling it well, in addition to Javin, Jack and the other upperclassmen.”

During conference play last year, Bolden demonstrated his offensive gifts that made him a blue-chip recruit, as he led the Blue Devils in shooting percentage and offensive rating by a wide margin. As the only true center to receive a significant share of minutes, Bolden has the potential to elevate Duke to another level.

—Derek Saul

12 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018

The Chronicle

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TEAM BUILDING 101

How Duke built the nation’s top recruiting class

By Michael Model

chemistry is already special, but how could this group have found its rhythm so quickly?

The answer: Constant communication throughout the recruiting process, in order to make the dream class a reality, and a shared vision of future success.

“They not only knew each other before they got here, but they respected one another,” Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said at Duke media day last month. “To get a class like that, you have to have those qualities, but you also have to be secure about who you are, and then be confident in me and my staff to know that we would know what to do with them, that they would get better being together.

“They’ve communicated almost all of senior year, they’ve played against one another, and they love Duke. They love being students, they want a college experience, and it’s just worked out.”

recruiting cycle. Krzyzewski pitched the idea from the outset, and throughout the process, each of the incoming freshmen worked hard to Once again, Duke boasts the No. 1 freshman sell the rest of the group on the concept, hoping class in the nation. The 2018-19 Blue Devils, to bring the vision to life. after reeling in the nation’s top three recruits Duke’s first commitment of the Class of and No. 17 Tre Jones, are reloaded, with a 2018 came Aug. 13, 2017 when Tre Jones— talented core that should rival almost any in younger brother of Tyus, a key contributor the country. for the 2015 national championship squad— R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson and Cam announced his commitment. Jones, the Reddish, along with Jones, have already second-best point guard in his class per ESPN, taken over the national spotlight despite not gave the team a pass-first ball-handler. yet playing in a regular season game. Barrett The Apple Valley, Minn., native then made and Williamson electrified the crowds north it his mission to surround himself with the best of the border this August with numerous players and build his class. alley-oop connections, and the Blue Devils “When coach was recruiting me, he told me then dominated their exhibition slate— some of the guys he wanted to recruit and bring outscoring their two opponents by 126 together to play on this team,” Jones said. “Cam, combined points—with Reddish and Jones R.J., and Zion are the main guys he said, so I back in the picture after recovering from was going into it when I was ready to make my minor injuries. decision here knowing he wanted those guys to And Wednesday, the star rookies and ‘We were going to go to college together’ come here for a reason. I reached out to those classmate Joey Baker were featured on the The idea of the four freshmen—Baker guys and then we just started talking more and cover of Sports Illustrated, dubbed the didn’t decide to reclassify and come to college more, building a really strong bond before we “Fabbest Five.” a year early until May—playing together was even got here.”

People around the team will tell you that its at the center of the Blue Devils’ most recent Nearly three weeks after Jones became the Blue Devils’ first commit, on Sept. 2, the incoming freshman class doubled in size as 6-foot-7 forward Reddish decided to join Jones. Reddish—the No. 3 recruit in the nation—brought perimeter shooting to Duke in addition to his excellent ballhandling skills.

Reddish should be the Blue Devils’ secondary ball-handler alongside Jones, and his passing abilities have been on full display throughout Duke’s exhibition slate, averaging six assists per game. In high school, Reddish was often slotted as the team’s primary distributor playing alongside a pair of prolific scorers in current NBA center Mo Bamba and Arizona sophomore guard Brandon Randolph.

“We had similar schools on our list, and at camps and from watching each other play we really liked each other’s games,” Jones said of his relationship with Reddish. “So we reached Henry Haggart | Sports Photography Editor out to each other and decided we were going to go to college together.”

Tre Jones took it upon himself to fulfill Coach K’s recruiting vision from the get-go.

Sports Editor

Ian Jaffe | Special Projects Photo Editor

Cam Reddish joined the Blue Devils’ recruiting class on Labor Day Weekend.

‘We built a brotherhood’ With Reddish and Jones locked in, the duo looked ready to build on what was already shaping up to be a strong class. Jones and Reddish created a group chat with Barrett and Williamson, allowing for both constant communication and bonding well before the freshmen would step foot on campus this past July.

The quartet became close friends, with conversations remaining mostly casual rather than focused on recruiting decisions. Talk of the recruits playing together came up enough during the process that the four freshmen decided to focus on getting to know one another off the court.

“No pressure, we were just friends. That was really it,” Barrett said of the group chat. “We didn’t really talk about recruiting too much. We just talked about what was going on in our daily lives and we built a brotherhood before we even See RECRUITING on Page 18

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018 | 13

3. NORTH CAROLINA

4. VIRGINIA TECH

The Tar Heels lose an all-ACC guard, but will pose a threat with returning veterans and the addition of a top-10 recruit.

With six of their top seven scorers back from last season, the Hokies are set to compete for the title.

2017-18 record: 26-11, 11-7 in the ACC Head coach: Roy Williams Tenure at North Carolina: 16th season Career coaching record: 842-227 Home court: Dean E. Smith Center Starters: G Coby White, G Kenny Williams, G Cam Johnson, F Nassir Little, F Luke Maye

2017-18 record: 21-12, 10-8 in the ACC Head coach: Buzz Williams Tenure at Virginia Tech: 5th season Career coaching record: 227-146 Home court: Cassell Coliseum Starters: G Justin Robinson, G Ahmed Hill, G Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G/F Chris Clarke, F Kerry Blackshear Jr.

Starting its season last year with a careless hand injury by second-team All-ACC point guard Joel Berry II, anxiety ran high for North Carolina’s performance in the first few weeks of the season. Losing talented rebounders Kennedy Meeks, Isaiah Hicks, and Tony Bradley, finishing around the basket was a weakness the team had to work on throughout their season. The Tar Heels were unsuccessful in the NCAA tournament, as they were sent home after a loss to Texas A&M in the second round.

Entering as the eighth-ranked team in the AP preseason poll, expectations are definitely higher going into this season. Senior Luke Maye was selected as the ACC Preseason Player

Luke Maye of the Year and earned first-team All-ACC and third-team All America honors as a junior last year. Averaging 16.9 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season, he will be a key role in the team’s good shooting and rebounding. There’s a huge hype for freshman Nassir Little, as his energy on the court has been highlighted in his high school mixtapes, and he’s expected to be a high draft pick.

With three starters who have had previous experience on in the NCAA tournament— Maye, Cam Johnson, and Kenny Williams— and two McDonalds All-Americans from the class of 2018—Little and Coby White—there will be balance on the floor.

—Ramona Naseri

Buzz Williams has transformed a program that, prior to his arrival, had not reached the NCAA tournament since 2007. Now it is time to see if he can take his core—which has led the Hokies to two straight NCAA tournament appearances for the first time since 1986—to the next level. With six of its top seven scorers and all but one member of its starting lineup a year ago back in the fold, Virginia Tech has a legitimate shot at being a conference contender.

The Hokies should have no trouble scoring the ball, with star senior point guard Justin Robinson and redshirt junior Kerry Blackshear Jr. forming a potent inside-out combination that is bolstered

Justin Robinson

by a trio of talented scorers to fill out their starting lineup. But senior Chris Clarke was suspended indefinitely with less than a week before opening night, leaving a hole in their starting five.

Although projected post player Khadim Sy opted to transfer from Virginia Tech in the offseason, it will have depth at all spots, outside of Blackshear in the post. Expect Williams to rely on Blackshear down low as the Hokies’ only player taller than 6-foot-7.

If Blackshear stays healthy and dominates down low, Virginia Tech could make a sustained run in this season’s NCAA tournament.

—Ben Feder

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5. SYRACUSE

6. CLEMSON

Syracuse is set to contend after making it to the Sweet 16 and bringing back most of its core.

The Tigers add to the depth of the ACC after a breakout Sweet 16 run last March.

2017-18 record: 23-14, 8-10 in ACC Head coach: Jim Boeheim Tenure at Syracuse: 43rd year Career coaching record: 926-368 Home court: Carrier Dome Starters: G Frank Howard, G Tyus Battle, F Oshae Brissett, F Marek Dolezaj, C Paschal Chukwu

2017-18 record: 25-10, 11-7 in the ACC Head coach: Brad Brownell Tenure at Clemson: 9th season Coaching record at Clemson: 149-113 Home court: Littlejohn Coliseum Starters: F Aamir Simms, G Shelton Mitchell, G Marcquise Reed, F David Skara, G John Newman III

In the 2017-18 season, Syracuse looked to overcome its performance from the previous year, which saw them fail to make the NCAA tournament. That motivation fueled them to a 23-14 record, finishing 10th in the ACC and just qualifying for March Madness as one of the teams in the First Four. The Orange beat Arizona State before upsetting No. 6 TCU and No. 3 Michigan State in the first two rounds, but they were then eliminated by Duke in the Sweet 16.

The team will retain a majority of its core from last year. Junior Tyus Battle, sophomore Oshae Brissett and senior Frank Howard led Syracuse in scoring last year and will return for the next season. They are joined

Tyus Battle

by sophomore Marek Dolejaz and senior Paschal Chukwu, who also played key roles as starters last year.

The team will welcome three new players, most notably point guard Jalen Carey, who was ranked the 39th best recruit from the Class of 2018 by ESPN. Shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and small forward Robert Braswell are the two other freshmen new to the team. All three freshmen will likely be given time to develop off the bench behind the leadership and experience of the veteran starting five as the Orange look to advance further in the NCAA tournament this season.

—Karthik Ramachandran

Clemson may be a football school, but its basketball team has been nipping at Duke’s heels for years.

The Blue Devils have eked out wins by no more than eight points in the last three contests—including a seven-point contest on the way to the 2017 ACC tournament title— since Duke fell to the Tigers on the road in 2016 by five points. Fresh off a run to the Sweet 16 and with a trio of starters returning, the Tigers will be a threat to the ACC’s bluebloods.

Clemson is likely to challenge Duke again when it comes to Durham in January. The Tigers retained their three core players from last year’s 25-10 season, which tied their best win total ever.

Marcquise Reed

Redshirt junior Marcquise Reed was the team’s leading scorer last year, averaging 10 points per contest in his first season for the Tigers. The 6-foot-3 guard tested the NBA Draft waters before deciding to return to school.

Reed and fellow transfer Elijah Thomas, a 6-foot-9 forward, scored 13 points apiece in last season’s contest against the Blue Devils.

Thomas, who did not start Clemson’s recent exhibition game, led the Tigers in rebounds and blocked shots last year. In addition to keeping the their core three, the Tigers also netted six newcomers for this season, bringing some height to the lineup with a pair of 6-foot-10 transfers and a 6-foot-11 freshman.

—Bre Bradham

The Chronicle

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018 | 15

COACHING CHANGES

Beginning a new era on the Duke coaching staff

By Hank Tucker Associate Sports Editor

Mike Krzyzewski didn’t just lose his on-court captain in the offseason with Grayson Allen’s graduation. He also lost his most dependable leader on the bench in Jeff Capel, giving his coaching staff a new look this year as well.

Duke’s former associate head coach is now in charge of his own ACC program at Pittsburgh, and though the apparent effect on the Blue Devils’ recruiting success has been well-documented, it has created a different dynamic in practices and games as well. Jon Scheyer and Nate James were both promoted to associate head coaches, and Krzyzewski hired Chris Carrawell away from former Duke point guard Steve Wojciechowski’s staff at Marquette to fill Capel’s vacancy. “[Scheyer and James] are more vocal than they were last year for sure, and it’s kind of more of a three-headed attack than it was last year, which is neither better nor worse,” junior captain Javin DeLaurier said. “We miss Coach Capel obviously and we wish him all the luck in the world at Pitt, except when we play them, but C-Well’s come in and he’s doing a great job.”

Capel served as the clear second-in-command under Krzyzewski after Wojciechowski and Chris Collins both departed for head coaching jobs, even taking Krzyzewski’s spot in the head coach’s chair on several occasions when he had to miss games due to illness or back surgery in recent years. Coach K often credited his top lieutenant for suggesting in-game tactical adjustments, including the shift to a 3-2 zone to contain Iona in the opening round of last year’s NCAA tournament.

To fill that void, Scheyer, James and

Charles York | Special Projects Photography Editor

Jeff Capel’s departure to Pittsburgh ushered in a new era on the Duke coaching staff.

Carrawell—all former Blue Devil captains in their own right—have teamed up quickly to bring instant chemistry to the huddle. Nolan Smith’s promotion to the director of basketball operations job also gives him more freedom to help with recruiting on campus and break down film with players, though he is still not allowed to do any on-court coaching.

“C-Well, he’s got that personality. He gets it. He can work a room pretty well,” Krzyzewski said. “It’s been a pretty smooth transition to be quite frank.

I knew Nate and C-Well were like brothers, but I didn’t realize that Nolan and Jon were such good friends with C-Well, and part of that has to do with the [K Academy] fantasy camp, and they’ve gotten to know one another well before this.”

Duke’s coaching staff has not been this

inexperienced since the early 2000s, when Collins, Wojciechowski and Johnny Dawkins all worked under Krzyzewski relatively fresh out of their playing careers. That group stuck together for seven full seasons before Dawkins left to take the head job at Stanford.

Collins and Wojciechowski followed him into the head coaching ranks a few years later, ushering in a new generation of coaches to learn under Krzyzewski as more former Blue Devils enter the conversation to become his eventual successor in Durham.

Of the current group on Duke’s bench, Scheyer is the most well-respected as a potential head coach in the near future. At age 31, he has already shown a knack for recruiting and mentoring guards after leading the Blue Devils to the 2010

national championship as a senior captain and starting point guard.

James has been with Duke’s program the longest, working his way up for the last 11 in various roles. He was the assistant strength and conditioning coach for a season before becoming an assistant coach in 2008, but he dropped down to special assistant in 2011 to make room for Capel on the staff. The former Blue Devil captain regained an assistant coaching position in 2013 when Collins left for Northwestern. He is now primarily responsible for coaching Duke’s frontcourt players.

Carrawell is finding his tactical niche under Scheyer and James in his first season, but players agree that he has made a fast impression, and his experience as a player under Krzyzewski has helped him hit the ground running.

“He brings a lot of energy and guys love playing for him,” DeLaurier said. “There’s definitely a difference, just a difference in personalities, but the coaching staff is still fantastic.”

The 2000 ACC Player of the Year, Carrawell, never expected to become a coach—he said his idol as a kid was Hall of Famer Jerry West when he was the general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers and envisioned a future career in a professional front office. But an opportunity to become a graduate assistant at Duke arose after his overseas playing career ended, and he eventually landed as an NBA G League assistant for three years before joining Wojciechowski’s staff.

“You find yourself getting into coaching, find yourself liking it and now you’re at this moment and at this point where it comes full circle and you get a chance to work for the greatest coach ever,” Carrawell said in May shortly after he was hired.

“Sometimes the way the world works, it’s crazy.”

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7. FLORIDA STATE

8. N.C. STATE

The Seminoles are ready to contend with a veteran roster and the return of their leading scorer.

Keatts looks to build off a strong inaugural campaign despite losing some key pieces.

2017-18 record: 23-12, 9-9 in the ACC Head coach: Leonard Hamilton Tenure at Florida State: 17th season Career coaching record: 527-418 Home court: Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Starters: G Trent Forrest, G M.J. Walker, F Phil Cofer, F Terance Mann, C Mfiondu Kabengele

2017-18 record: 21-12, 11-7 in the ACC Head coach: Kevin Keatts Tenure at N.C. State: 2nd season Career coaching record: 93-40 Home court: PNC Arena Starters: G Markell Johnson, G C.J. Bryce, G Devon Daniels, G Torin Dorn, F Wyatt Walker

After losing their three most productive scoring threats, the Seminoles defied all expectations with a deep run in the NCAA tournament last season, falling to national runner-up Michigan in the Elite Eight. This year, Florida State is looking to silence the critics again, as the Seminoles are looking to replace key slots in last year’s high-powered lineup.

The biggest boon for Florida State this offseason was the news that starting forward Phil Cofer will be eligible for an additional year of play.

Last season, Cofer led the Seminoles in scoring with 12.8 points per game and averaged 5.1 rebounds per contest. The redshirt senior will undoubtedly be a centerpiece of Florida State’s offense. Backing him up are returning starters Trent Forrest and

Phil Cofer Terance Mann.

Although this Florida State lineup is filled with some unknowns from last season, its old weaknesses are still apparent. M.J. Walker will be stepping up as a wing, a role he was not always consistent at last year. Although Walker was a five-star prospect, the Jonesboro, Ga., native was sometimes streaky in his shooting, sitting at 34.5 percent of 3-pointers made.

Coupled with a penchant for weak perimeter defending—a key weakness that ultimately bounced Florida State from the Big Dance— and Walker’s tendency to get cold could force the Seminoles to ask for production from older, albeit less talented, bench players.

—Winston Lindqwister

Year one of the Kevin Keatts era could not have started better in Raleigh, as the former UNC Wilmington coach led the Wolfpack to wins against rivals Duke and North Carolina en route to a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Keatts is still in the process of rebranding the program, but faces a literal big challenge this year after losing three forwards and centers who were key pieces last year.

N.C. State figures to be a guard-run team led by Torin Dorn, the secondleading scorer for the Wolfpack last season.

He’ll be joined in the backcourt by transfer C.J. Bryce, who followed Keatts from Wilmington after averaging 17.4 points per game and making first team all-conference.

Torin Dorn

N.C. State could possibly even start four guards, something that could help in Keatts’ up tempo press defense.

The real issue in Raleigh is the lack of a solid post presence. Abdul-Malik Abu and Lennard Freeman were hard-nosed forwards and were not afraid to get a scrappy rebound. Omer Yurtseven broke out in his sophomore year, but after testing the NBA Draft waters, opted to transfer to Georgetown and learn from an all-time great in Patrick Ewing. N.C. State will have to turn to a former top-100 recruit in DJ Funderburk, who was dismissed from Ohio State in 2017, and Samford transfer Wyatt Walker to provide an interior game.

—Shane Smith

KENTUCKY

REST OF THE WAY

The Wildcats bring in the nation’s second-best recruiting class and a graduate transfer to carry the offense.

Previews for the final seven ACC teams and the rest of Duke’s nonconference opponents, including Indiana and St. John’s, can be found online at dukechronicle.com.

Full nonconference schedule Nov. 6 vs. Kentucky (Indianapolis) Nov. 11 vs. Army

2017-18 record: 26-11, 10-8 in the SEC Head coach: John Calipari Tenure at Kentucky: 10th season Career coaching record: 678-202 Home court: Rupp Arena Starters: G Quade Green, G Immanuel Quickley, F Reid Travis, F Nick Richards, F P.J. Washington Despite losing three of its top scorers from last year’s team to the NBA in Kevin Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo, Kentucky has reloaded and should once again be one of the top teams in the nation. The Wildcats boast the nations’ No. 2 recruiting class according to ESPN, reeling in four top-25 prospects in Keldon Johnson, E.J. Montgomery, Ashton Hagans and Immanuel Quickley. Perhaps the team’s biggest acquisition, however, is Stanford graduate transfer Reid Travis, who averaged 19.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest for the Cardinals last season.

Relative to the average Kentucky team, the Wildcats have a lot of returning experience with Green, Richards and Washington all

Nov. 14 vs. Eastern Michigan Nov. 19-21 at Maui Invitational (Maui) Nov. 27 vs. Indiana John Calipari a staple of the starting lineup last season in addition to Travis’ four years as a starter at Stanford. This experience will be key for Kentucky’s tough nonconference slate.

In addition to opening the season against Duke Nov. 6 in Indianapolis, the Wildcats will face Seton Hall and North Carolina at neutral sites, host Utah and Kansas, and travel west to a hostile environment at Louisville. Calipari’s squad will have to learn quickly in order to avoid dropping four or five contests prior to 2019, but the experience could be crucial for the team’s success down the stretch through the Southeastern conference and NCAA tournaments this March.

—Michael Model

Dec. 1 vs. Stetson Dec. 5 vs. Hartford Dec. 8 vs. Yale Dec. 18 vs. Princeton Dec. 20 vs. Texas Tech (New York) Feb. 2 vs. St. John’s

Juwan Morgan

The Chronicle

CAPTAINS FROM PAGE 5 activities during the weeklong Canada tour this August.

Regardless, Duke still has plenty of time to grow close and find its chemistry. DeLaurier took some extra steps from the start to make sure everyone feels included and welcome.

“As soon as they got here over the summer, we were all in my apartment hanging out, I said, ‘Just so you guys know, you’re always welcome,’” DeLaurier said. “If you need a place to chill, just, ‘Hey Jav, where are you?’.... You don’t even have to ask. Just be like, ‘Where you at?’ That’s just creating such a good environment for our team, not only on the court, but off it just because we are always all together.

“One of the biggest differences on this team from teams from years prior is that there really is no class difference....

Obviously, the guys who have been here have more experience and can give some wisdom to the younger guys, but in terms of how we treat each other, we’re all just teammates and brothers.”

dukechronicle.com

WILLIAMSON

REDDISH

FROM PAGE 6

FROM PAGE 6

his teammates are around one another away from Cameron Indoor.

“He’s a goofball,” junior Javin DeLaurier said of Williamson’s persona. “He’s super humble, he’s hilarious, and I just enjoy hanging out with him. You’d never know that Zion Williamson has 1.7 million followers on Instagram if you were just talking to him because he’s just a good guy.”

At the end of the day, though, Williamson doesn’t need the superlatives or the praise or the celebrity.

He’s a man on a mission and will be the focal point of a team that expects a great deal from its young, but supremely talented, star.

“Honestly, I don’t want to have a description,” Williamson said. “You can’t describe my game because I can do so many different things for my size, my weight.

It’s powerful but smooth but I’m also very fast…. I don’t think you can describe it.”

came to Duke, like, he’s done it with Team USA with great players so we feel like he can do it with us, and so far he’s shown that he can.”

For Reddish, playing alongside the likes of Jones, Williamson and Barrett only stands to help negate some of the issues scouts have found in his game. The most consistent points of criticism the Duke forward has received since he went under the recruiting microscope have been regarding his motor. Whether it be natural introversion or his mild mannered demeanor, Reddish has been known to sometimes fade into the background in his time on the EYBL circuit.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018 | 17

However, with high-energy teammates like Barrett and Williamson backing him up, Reddish doesn’t need to necessarily be a huge presence on the court at all times. At the very least, the atmosphere of playing and practicing with such fiery personalities should serve to motivate the young Blue Devil, helping him overcome the only glaring flaw in his game.

“All of the players have been competing at the highest levels in practice, not just the freshmen, and everyone has been pushing each other,” Reddish said. “We’ve improved a lot since the summertime and I’m looking forward to the season.”

When reading about the hype behind this season’s Duke basketball, don’t forget about Cam Reddish. Although he may not have the same public personality as some of his teammates, he is arguablly the most important piece for the Blue Devils in their quest for a sixth national title.

Henry Haggart | Sports Photography Editor

Chronicle File Photo

Javin DeLaurier has proven to be a plus defender during his time at Duke.

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Cam Reddish is regarded by many to be the best shooter of the Blue Devils’ freshmen, but the Norristown, Pa., struggled through exhibition play.

The Chronicle

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18 | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2018

RECRUITING FROM PAGE 12 knew we were coming to Duke.”

The Mississauga, Ontario, native gave the Blue Devils the nation’s top recruit for the third straight season when he announced he’d be joining Jones and Reddish on Nov. 10, minutes before the Blue Devils’ 2017-18 home opener against Elon. Barrett’s primary strength is lockdown defense, using his length, but he has shown promise with both his ball-handling and shooting abilities like Reddish.

With 75 percent of Krzyzewski’s initial vision set in stone, the trio turned their focus to the player with the most uncertainty— second-ranked Williamson—in order to seal the deal.

‘I think I can become a whole new player’ “Cam and I knew we were going to college together in the Charles York | Special Projects Photography Editor fall and had been talking to R.J. pretty hard, and had an idea he R.J. Barrett has sparked the Blue Devils in both exhibition contests this preseason, leading the team with strong first-half was going to come when he made his decision,” Jones said. “But performances in the exhibition matchups. when Zion made his decision, nobody really had a clue.”

Prior to his commitment, Williamson had generated by far the most national attention of the freshmen. His highlight dunks were plastered all over YouTube and Twitter, and at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds, Williamson’s size alone made fans gawk.

The Spartanburg, S.C., native had also accrued a massive social media following, with more than 1.8 million subscribed to his Instagram account.

Williamson then shocked the college basketball world Jan. 21, 2018, when he announced his intentions to join the Blue Devils. 247 Sports’ crystal ball projections gave Duke just a 4 percent chance of landing Williamson at the time, with in-state Clemson the overwhelming favorite destination at 87 percent.

The athletic forward attributed Krzyzewski’s elite coaching ability as the difference maker in his decision to come to Durham.

“I mean [Barrett, Reddish and Jones] were a good part of it, because I wanna play with good players, but it was just The Brotherhood and Coach K,” Williamson said. “I consider him The Sackler School of Medicine-New York State/American Program offers an the greatest coach of all time and if I could have him break down outstanding four-year medical school curriculum, taught in English, leading to the my game and tell me what I need to work on then, I think I can become a whole new player.”

M.D. degree. The Program is chartered by the Regents of the University of the State Williamson’s commitment clinched the top recruiting class of New York and is accredited by the State of Israel. in the nation for the Blue Devils, and the first time that a single program signed the nation’s top three players.

Now a unit, Duke’s freshman foursome will look to make Graduates participate in the National Resident Matching Program and return to the headlines together, starting Nov. 6 against No. 2 Kentucky in United States for their residency training. Since its commencement in 1976, over the Champions Classic. And if they have any say, the Blue Devil 2,000 alumni have completed their residency training at the most distinguished rookies hope to be doing more of the same six months from now in Minneapolis. hospitals in the United States.

“That’s what we’re working toward,” Barrett said. “I’d be crazy if I said that’s not what we want to do.”

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Zion Williamson capped the Blue Devils’ recruiting class with his decision to commit to Duke last January.

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