Duke Basketball

RJ Barrett isn't likely to be selected ahead of Duke teammate Zion Williamson in the 2019 NBA draft, but some within the NBA believe he could develop into an elite player. 

According to Frank Isola of The Athletic, "several league executives" believe Barrett's ceiling is Houston Rockets superstar guard and reigning NBA MVP James Harden.

Barrett is widely viewed as the third-best player in the draft behind Williamson and Murray State guard Ja Morant, meaning he could go third overall to the New York Knicks.

Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com reported Tuesday that the Knicks plan to meet with Barrett in Chicago on Wednesday, which could be the first step toward them selecting him.

Per Zagoria, ESPN's Jay Bilas is among those who believe Barrett compares favorably to Harden: "A year ago, RJ Barrett was considered the presumptive No. 1 pick and he's Hardenesque in his ability. He's got to improve his shooting, but so did Michael Jordan. I'm not saying he's Michael Jordan, but he's got the capability of doing it. He's a great young man, and he's a great teammate."

During his one season at Duke, Barrett wasn't shy about shooting the ball. He took 18.5 shots per game, shot 45.4 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three-point range, and averaged 22.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

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His ability to distribute the ball at 6'7" is perhaps his most impressive attribute, as it sets him apart from the rest of the 2019 draft class.

The Knicks are in desperate need of a star player and a roster overhaul after posting an NBA-worst 17-65 record this season. Barrett would be a good start, although far more is needed to help New York become a playoff team and eventually a contender.

New York has been linked to both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in free agency. Pairing one or even both of them with Barrett would give the Knicks a supremely talented core to go along with up-and-coming players such as Kevin Knox, Dennis Smith Jr., Damyean Dotson and Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks' front office was likely hoping to land the No. 1 overall pick so it could use it to either take Williamson or trade it for a superstar like New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis, but Barrett isn't a bad consolation prize, and it isn't outside the realm of possibility that he could end up being the best NBA player out of this draft.

Despite some speculation Zion Williamson would end his freshman season early at Duke after suffering a knee injury, the former Duke star said that was never really an option in an interview with Franklyn Calle of Slam Online. 

While he admitted he heard the discussion about resting up for the NBA draft, Williamson explained that it wasn't his plan:

"I made a commitment to my brothers. So if I was to sit out, that'd be very selfish on my part. And I couldn't do that. Sitting on the sideline and watching your brothers battle without you, knowing you can be affecting the game, it hurts. I made a commitment so I wasn't going back on my word. So I knew I was coming back the whole time."

After missing a few weeks of action, the freshman returned to lead Duke to an ACC tournament title and a trip to the Elite Eight.

Williamson was diagnosed with Grade 1 knee sprain which he suffered just one minute into a highly anticipated battle against North Carolina. At this time, he had already proved himself as the best player in college basketball and the likely No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

The thought process was that he could avoid further injury by resting and preparing for the next level, similar to what Nick Bosa did before the NFL draft.

Even some current NBA players felt he would be smart to sit out the rest of the year:

However, Williamson explained that he never really considered the strategy.

"It wasn’t even a thought," he said. "It was probably something we looked at, somebody saying I should sit down—haha, that’s funny. I’m coming back."

Duke was likely happy he returned, even though the squad wasn't able to achieve its goal of a national championship.

The rich got richer in the college basketball world on Tuesday when highly touted prospect Jeremy Roach committed to the Duke Blue Devils. 

"I just felt like as soon as I went down there it was right for me," Roach said, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports. "It was just a gut feeling in everybody's stomach, even my sister, my brother, my dad and my mom. I went everywhere, I went to Kentucky and Villanova, I just didn't feel the same way I did at Duke."

Roach is a 5-star prospect and the No. 15 overall player and No. 2 point guard in the 2020 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

"I have a big relationship with them," Roach said when discussing the members of the Duke coaching staff who helped recruit him, per Daniels. "Coach [Jon] Scheyer, Coach [Nate] James and Coach K. I probably have the best relationship with Coach Scheyer of the assistant coaches."

Roach doesn't overwhelm opponents with his size (6'2", 165 lbs), but his 247Sports profile pointed to his ability to play through contact and score at the rim. He is also an impressive facilitator when defenders collapse on his penetration, and he's capable of guarding multiple positions as a versatile guard on the other end.

Daniels noted he tore his ACL during his junior season but made USA Basketball's U17 team that won a gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Cup.

Tre Jones returned to Duke this offseason, but Roach could slide right into the point guard spot if the incumbent heads to the NBA following the 2019-20 campaign.

He is also the Blue Devils' first commit in the 2020 class and could set the tone for another talented group of recruits after Duke landed the No. 1 class in 2018 and No. 2 class in 2019, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Duke commit Boogie Ellis has reportedly been released from his letter of intent, according to Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Evan Daniels of 247Sports first reported the player's request for release. 

Ellis originally committed to Duke in November and officially signed later that month during the early signing period.

According to the 247Sports composite rankings, the combo guard is a 4-star recruit and the No. 34 overall player in the 2019 class.

Even without Ellis, Duke has the No. 1 class in the country, according to 247Sports. Big men Vernon Carey and Matthew Hurt help increase the rating, although the addition of shooting guard Cassius Stanley might be what forced Ellis out.

Considering point guard Tre Jones is returning from last year's team, there might be limited minutes for the talented young player.

Meanwhile, there should be no shortage of options for Ellis going forward.

John Martin of 92.9 ESPN reported that Memphis will be in the equation after Ellis visited prior to his last commitment:

He also took official visits to Georgia Tech, North Carolina and Arizona during his recruitment period, per 247Sports.

Although he is a bit undersized at 6'2", Ellis is a big-time shooter with good quickness who should be a high-level scorer at the next level. Wherever he ends up, the guard will likely be an impact player for as long as he remains in college.

The third annual Iverson Classic took place on Friday with Isaiah Wong leading Team Honor to a 159-155 win over Team Loyalty.

Wong scored a game-high 38 points in the win, followed by Duke commit Boogie Ellis with 21. Kahlil Whitney (31 points), Cassius Stanley (26 points) and Tre Mann (22 points) also had strong showings. 

After spending this week training with Allen Iverson, the nation's top recruits got to showcase their skills on teams coached by former NBA All-Star Baron Davis and Stephen Jackson in front of a raucous crowd at Souderton Area High School in Pennsylvania. 

Duke commit Cassius Stanley, who is 247Sports' No. 30 overall recruit in the 2019 class, showed the skills that he will put on display at Cameron Indoor Stadium next season:

Stanley was nearly overshadowed by a fellow Blue Devils recruit when Ellis did this in the second half:

The Blue Devils better watch out, though, because Miami appears to have a playmaker coming to South Beach based on what Wong did Friday:

Even though he did most of his damage as a scorer, Wong wasn't afraid to get others involved, like on this lob to Kentucky commit Keion Brooks:

Wong's showstopping effort came two days after he stole the show at the Play-by-Play Classic All-Star Game:

From the ACC to the SEC, future rivals Tre Mann (Florida) and Whitney (Kentucky) had no problems working together:

Duke and Kentucky briefly joined forces when Stanley found Whitney on the wing for an early three-pointer:

The Iverson Classic is still in its developing stages, but it's rapidly becoming a prominent showcase event for college basketball's future stars. This year's incoming freshman class was well represented with stars who are either already established or will make a name for themselves very soon. 

On the court with well-established names, Wong turned in his second consecutive standout performance. The future is bright for him as he prepares to attend Miami, as it is for the rest of the players who showed off their skills Friday.

FBI witness Louis Martin Blazer discussed comments made by Christian Dawkins during a wiretapped conversation with Clemson Tigers assistant coach Steve Smith about the recruitment of Zion Williamson during a federal court appearance Thursday. 

Matt Norlander of CBS Sports reported Dawkins was recorded on video wiretap saying, "Duke is gonna have their resources. UNC is UNC. Kentucky is gonna have their resources." Marty Blazer was asked under oath what he felt those remarks suggested.

"Duke, UNC and Kentucky will have people in place to pay whatever's necessary for Zion Williamson," he said. "Whatever Zion Williamson's family needed, we would be able to step in and [help with money] if it was close."

Blazer has become a central figure in the federal trial focused on corruption in college sports, most notably college football and college basketball.

On Tuesday, he testified he made payments to football players at Alabama, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Penn State and Pittsburgh. He said the payments went to family members and associates of recruits in exchange for choosing him as their financial advisor when the athletes turned pro.

Williamson was one of the most coveted basketball players in the 2018 class. He was rated as a 5-star prospect and the No. 5 overall recruit last year, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

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The Spartanburg Day School (S.C.) product chose Duke amid interest from numerous other top programs, including North Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas and Arizona.

He lived up to the enormous hype and then some by averaging 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks across 33 appearances for the Blue Devils. He was the consensus National Player of the Year and a First Team All-American.

Williamson declared for the 2019 NBA draft on April 15.

Although his name was also mentioned in wiretapped phone calls discussed during an October trial as part of the large-scale FBI investigation, there's been no direct evidence he or his family accepted improper benefits.

Williamson is the favorite to become the No. 1 overall pick in the draft on June 20.

Cassius Stanley, a 4-star shooting guard from Sierra Canyon School in California, committed to Duke on Monday, picking the Blue Devils over Kansas, Oregon and UCLA.  

Stanley is considered the No. 3 prospect from the state of California, the No. 3 shooting guard prospect in the class of 2019 and the No. 29 player overall, according to 247Sports. At 6'5" and 180 pounds, he already possesses excellent length for a 2-guard, which should serve him well in college. 

Kevin Wade of 247Sports offered the following scouting report on Stanley:

"Athletically, Stanley is elite, as he's a very impressive leaper that moves fluidly and well laterally. Stanley excels in transition and on the defensive end, where he has a chance to be a very good perimeter defender. Stanley's shot mechanics and form look good and he's at the least an average long range shot at this point and there's reason to believe he'll turn into a pretty good one with time and work. He could improve his ball handling and like most players his age get stronger, but there's a lot to like about Stanley as a prospect and the direction he's headed."

He proved that athleticism in a video he did with NBA legend Vince Carter:

Stanley began showing his dominant upside as a sophomore, when he averaged 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 30 games, according to MaxPreps.com. That's a strong foundation for the young shooting guard to build upon, and Duke will be expecting an instant impact from him. 

If Stanley dominates as a freshman, he could be a one-and-done prospect. NBA teams covet athletic, two-way wings with length and explosiveness, and he has potential on both ends of the court.

In the meantime, the Blue Devils will hope Stanley can step into the starting lineup and provide an immediate upgrade on the wing. 

The Blue Devils already had the top recruiting class in the nation, with 5-star prospects Vernon Carey, Matthew Hurt and Wendell Moore committed to the school, along with 4-star guard Boogie Ellis. Adding Stanley is just an added bonus for the program, which continues to bring in elite recruiting classes.

The Blue Devils didn't win a national title in the 2018-19 campaign despite immense expectations, but they should once again be one of college basketball's top teams in 2019-20.

Duke center Marques Bolden and forward Javin DeLaurier announced their intentions to enter the 2019 NBA draft Monday but plan to maintain eligibility.

Bolden and DeLaurier each have one year of eligibility remaining. Under new NCAA/NBA guidelines, Bolden and DeLaurier can hire agents during the draft process and maintain eligibility. They could also return to school if they go undrafted, provided they attend the NBA combine.

Bolden averaged 5.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game this past season. A 5-star prospect coming out of high school, Bolden has never been able to translate his prep dominance to the collegiate game. He's a good athlete and rim runner who can block shots near the rim but struggled to gain coach Mike Krzyzewski's trust his first two seasons in Durham.

Krzyzewski gave Bolden his most extended playing time in 2018-19 but still limited him to 19.0 minutes per game.

ESPN.com does not have Bolden listed among its top 100 prospects in the 2019 draft class.

DeLaurier also came to Duke as part of the 2016 recruiting class as a 4-star prospect and found inconsistent playing time. He averaged 3.8 points and 4.4 rebounds during his junior season, playing 16.3 minutes per game. Most of DeLaurier's production came at the rim, where he used his athleticism for putbacks and easy dunks.

While some will be intrigued by his athletic upside, DeLaurier hasn't flashed much game on the offensive end and can be foul-heavy defensively.

ESPN.com also does not have DeLaurier listed in the top 100.

Duke landed a commitment Friday from Matthew Hurt, one of the top players in the 2019 recruiting class.

The power forward from John Marshall High School in Rochester, Minnesota, announced his decision at the school auditorium. He was also considering Kansas and Kentucky before picking the Blue Devils.

Hurt is a 5-star recruit and the No. 8 player in the country in 247Sports' composite rankings.

Hurt has dominated at the high school level, averaging 33.9 points, 15.0 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game in his junior season. He scored his 3,000th career point during his senior year and was named a McDonald's All-American.

He was also a key player on the Team USA squad that won the FIBA Americas U18 championship in 2018, along with Coby White and Cole Anthony.

At 6'9" with good athleticism and outstanding skill, Hurt is a force inside on both ends of the court. He has good timing on defense to block and alter shots near the basket, while his advanced post moves allow him to score with consistency offensively.

He can also run the floor well and is capable of knocking down shots from the outside, while his length makes him extremely difficult to defend. Meanwhile, his mentality will also be a plus as he gets to higher levels.

"The moment is never too big for him. Ever," a coach told CJ Moore of The Athletic. "The pressure, the anxiety, the moment will never get to that kid. Ever."

The talented youngster could benefit from added strength before he reaches the college level, as his thin frame could cause problems against top competition inside. However, he is skilled enough to be effective even at his current weight.

Hurt's potential earned him scholarship offers from top schools around the country, including Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky, but he ended up choosing Duke.

The Blue Devils have produced numerous elite one-and-done players over the years. Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett and Cameron Reddish continued the trend last season, and the newest recruit could do the same.

Whether Hurt does leave after one season or stays for a longer stretch, he could be a star at the college level.

Adding Hurt, Vernon Carey and Wendell Moore to a lineup that will return Tre Jones and more should keep the Blue Devils in the national title conversation in 2019-20.

As families continue to seek the most original way to do their gender reveal, having Zion Williamson on your side goes a long way.

Duke assistant Nolan Elingburg and his wife, Danielle, enlisted the freshman's help during their baby announcement Wednesday:

The Blue Devils star dunked to reveal blue confetti—while the mascot also shot his own confetti—signifying that the couple will be having a boy.

Williamson recently declared for the NBA draft, but he's apparently still hanging out at the team's practice facility to help out members of the staff when needed.

Once he officially goes pro, Williamson might start charging an appearance fee for these type of celebrations.