There was a lot of young talent on display at this past weekends Nike EYBL event held at the Boo Williams Facility in Hampton, Virginia. One of those young talents is 2013's Nerlens Noel of BABC. Noel is a 6-9 front court player from Everett, MA and he went up against the likes of Tony Parker and held his own as his team went undefeated.
Noels told BDN [private] that he had no dream school while growing up and that they were all equal in his eyes. When asked to describe his game, Noels said:
After three games Noel was shooting 75% from the floor, averaging 13.o rebounds and 4 blocked shots per game.
"I try to be the defensive anchor for my team, stop fast breaks off blocks and contribute offensively as much as I can and keep everybody involved. It is important to keep good team chemistry."
"I have done a lot of work with my head coach at Tilton School. My confidence is soaring in knowing what I can do and the skill set I can improve upon."
Noels rocking his Kids n' Play haircut is a focused young man on the court and his skill set has already earned him major interest from Kentucky, Florida, UCLA, Syracuse and others. "I like ACC, Big East and SEC schools the most," said Noel.
When asked of ACC schools, Duke in particular, Noel said "If I hear from them I would probably take a good long look at them." He went on to say that he was wide open and that it was early in the process for him. Noels said that Duke, North Carolina had shown interest but he has yet to really hear a lot from the two rival schools.
Noels is an athletic type that plays hard and loves the game. He will surely be in the top ten players in the class of 2013 and he is they type kid all the major schools will take a look at. He runs the floor well and is very aggressive around the basket and loves to dig on on the defensive end. BDN will keep tabs on Noel in the future and it wouldn't surprise us if the Blue Devils staff takes a good look at him when they can get out on the road.
This is the first of many prospects we'll touch base on this week,for our coverage is just getting started. [/private]
One of the things that recruits do once they sign is go after other prospects to play with them. Rasheed Sulaimon shares a bit on that in this exclusive video. We also update the NYBL statistical leaders. In another note, Tony Parker is sitting out his teams morning game with back spasms. Much more [private] to come on BDN Premium.
Day One is in the books at the Nike EYBL Session I, otherwise known as the Boo Williams Invitational. There were several Duke targets playing Friday evening, including the nation's top rated big man Tony Parker. We'll have plenty of video coming your way as we go into next week, although just about every Duke site imaginable was on the same players at the same time this evening, meaning a lot of the same stuff.
Parker showed off his newly chiseled body where he has lost some of his body fat from last season. He ran the court well for his Georgia Stars as they walked through their opponent.
Parker played sparingly and that was an effort to [private] save his legs for the rest of the session and foul trouble. Parker spoke highly of Coach Krzyzewski and said he talked with him often. He mentioned that UNC had offered but he has yet to talk with Roy Williams.
It was clear that Duke is a big player for his services but this one could go on for a bit. Parker said he'd sit down with his parents and advisers before making a decision and mentioned that he would visit Duke and UNC in the coming months. I feel much better about the Blue Devils chances with Parker after the interview.
Rasheed Sulaimon told BDN he'd been working on his game and that he was quicker on and off ball. Sulaimon scored 12 points in the first half but was scoreless in the second as his team cruised to an easy victory. We'll have more on Sulaimon a bit later, including videos, interviews and the like. Sulaimon has a sweet stroke and runs around the court like a water bug. He is confident in his abilities and the way he spoke to media gives me the impression he is up for any challenges. He said he loved playing with LJ Rose, a kid Duke once recruited. Rose point blank told me, he still loves Duke and wishes they'd recruit him. Not one Duke site payed any mind to him but now that I just mentioned this tidbit concerning his interest, watch his name magically appear elsewhere, wink, wink. Still, Duke seems set with Quinn Cook, so it'd be a long shot for them to offer at this time. Rose has a long list of suitors.
BDN talked with Theo Pinson as well, a kid who moved from D-One Sports to CP-3 this season. He is but 15 years old and playing with the big boys and he can already hold his own. He is fleet afoot and we'll have more on his game with an exclusive interview before the weekend is out. We already have tape of him from the gang of Duke sites rushing to speak with him. I have a ton of background on this sure fire prospect.
A lot of Duke fans have heard the name Brandon Ashley tossed about but trust me in that he is a long, long shot. He mentioned UNC when I was questioning him, glowing and the IC guys swooped in. I also talked with Oakland Soldiers teammate Aaron Gordon who had a monster game with some big time highlights. He has a ton of potential and said he has not heard from Duke or ACC schools. He has not list other than PAC-10 schools.
Anthony Bennett of CIA Bounce 17 played well tonight. He loves to get into the lane and mix it up and has the ability to become a beast. Bennett is of course Canadian and during the interview I felt he was unfamiliar with college hoops and asked him about that and he admitted he didn't really keep up with it growing up, not knowing much of the traditional powers. His list was long and growing and he is at the beginning of the process. He spoke of being free in a more open system than that his high school team plays. He seemed a bit surprised at the attention but liked it.
I spoke to Julius Randle as well and he loves to float outside despite his height. He went up against the aircraft carrier known as Sim Bhullar, listed at 7-5 and over 300 pounds. [/private]
Happy Friday, Blue Devil fans! It’s been another tough week here at Blue Devil Nation, with the NCAA tournament wrapping up and early entrant season in full swing. Keep the faith, fellow Duke fans, there are bright days ahead. Is it football season yet? Not quite. But Football Friday is here to help you indulge your weekly football craving, and we’ve got big things coming up. [private]
April 15
We’ve got a big day coming up, Blue Devil Nation! Next Friday will be the last opportunity for most of us to celebrate the outstanding careers of two legendary Blue Devils. The men’s basketball banquet is always a special occasion, but this year, will take on special meaning for many, as we say goodbye to seniors Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith for the final time. It’s been a privilege to watch their careers and it should be another memorable night in Cameron, with a special visitor expected as well. And don't forget to check out BDN's Boo Williams coverage!
If that’s not enough for you, April 15 is a significant day for Duke football as well. For most of the spring, recruiting has been in a quiet period, meaning that the staff is unable to go out and visit prospects. That’s not to say recruiting hasn’t been in full swing, as the staff have hosted hundreds of prospects and their families on campus. From April 15 through May 31, you can bet the staff will be hitting the recruiting trail hard as they put together the class of 2012.
Speaking of recruiting
Duke hosted a group of prospects last weekend on campus, and among them was athlete Kedrick Davis from Charlotte. The trip was well worth the visit for Davis, as he picked up his first verbal scholarship offer from the Blue Devils, who are recruiting Davis as a receiver. Davis has been on campus for several visits already and it seems likely that Duke will remain a big player in his recruitment. A few other offers may be in the works, and we’ll keep you up to date with the latest from the staff and the prospects themselves.
As other prospects continue to come off the board, either through commitments or lack of mutual interest, several more scholarship offers will be extended over the coming weeks. Duke is working hard to land a defensive back or two this spring and has been after several elite offensive and defensive linemen. At running back, Duke did not make the top 12 for Raleigh’s Keith Marshall, the top running back in the class of 2012, but remain in consideration for Tarboro’s Todd Gurley and a few other backs. As we’ve mentioned previously, recruiting (and commitments) are most likely to peak this summer, as Duke will host several camps and written offers will go out August 1.
Class of 2011
Blue Devil fans already got to see LB Jonathan Woodruff in the spring game, but he’ll soon be joined by several of his classmates on campus. It’s hard to believe the spring semester is starting to wrap up, and the first freshmen will report to campus on May 15, just over a month away. The new Blue Devils are excited to get on campus and get to work. This is a stronger class than many people think, and they are coming to Duke with the expectation to play in bowl games and win ACC championships.
More 2011 previews to come
We will continue to bring the best recruiting coverage around, but we’ll also start to transition into 2011 mode with some position previews and a look around the ACC. With all of the new faces on the sidelines and under center, there’s been a lot of activity in the ACC this spring and we’ll take a look at some of the headlines as spring practices start to wrap up.
Short and sweet
I’ve kept this week’s Football Friday relatively short, as we’re really in the calm before the storm. With spring practice now behind us and the contact period in front of us, it’s been a good time to recharge our batteries and prepare for the summer recruiting rush, which will carry us right into the 2011 season. Speaking of the 2011 season, don’t forget to get your season tickets on GoDuke.com. After retooling in 2010, the Blue Devils are ready to take a step forward in 2011. We’d love to see you all out in Wallace Wade this fall, chanting WE ARE DUKE.
LK Image for BDNDuke freshman guard Kyrie Irving will enter the 2011 NBA Draft with plans to hire an agent, head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced Wednesday. The 2011 NBA Draft will be held on June 23 in New York City and Irving is expected to be among the top picks in the draft.
“Our whole program is overjoyed with having Kyrie here for one year and that he has the chance now to pursue a dream of being a high draft pick and a great player in the NBA,” said Krzyzewski. “We are totally supportive of Kyrie, his family and his decision. We look forward to continuing to work with him during the upcoming months leading to his entry into the NBA and afterwards while he is an NBA player. He is a great young man, a terrific student, and a truly amazing representative for our program and for Duke. We love him and are very happy for him and his family.”
Irving, a 6-2 guard from West Orange, N.J., played in just 11 games this season, sitting out 26 contests with a toe injury on his right foot. He averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting .529 (55-of-104) from the field, .462 (18-of-39) from behind the three-point line and .901 (64-of-71) from the free throw line. Irving started the first eight games of the year, averaging 17.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game during that time frame. He returned to action in the NCAA Tournament and averaged 17.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in Duke’s three outings.
“I want to thank the entire staff at Duke, especially the coaches,” said Irving. “It was a great experience playing for Coach K. He taught me a lot about the game. Even when I was hurt, I learned a lot. Also a special thanks goes to the medical staff for getting me back on the court for the NCAA Tournament and my teammates for sticking with me throughout the entire year. Duke offered me an experience I could never have imagined.”
He scored a game-high 31 points to go with six rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals against No. 6 Michigan State in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. It was just the fourth time in school history a freshman scored 30 or more in a game. He was selected the CBE Classic MVP after averaging 14.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.5 steals in the four games. He had 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and two steals in the finals against No. 4 Kansas State. Irving also dished out nine assists against both Princeton and Colgate. In the NCAA Tournament, he scored team highs of 14 points against Hampton and 28 points against Arizona in the Sweet 16.
“This was a special year for me. I love everything about Duke and I’m going to miss it,” added Irving. ”Duke has a special place in my heart. Even though I’m leaving this year, Duke will always be in my mind and my heart. I’m going to miss putting on that No. 1 jersey.”
Duke will of course hold their annual basketball awards banquet on April 15th, a mere nine days off. Wonder if we'll know the intended fate of Kyrie Irving by then? The Duke Chronicle published this tongue in cheek plea today, but before you bring up Elton Brand, step back and relax for it was meant in humor. But fancy me this Batman! Isn't it a fact that there is no way he'd have a back court sidekick like Austin Rivers in his first "professional" season?
There is absolutely no rest when it comes to basketball coverage here at BDN. This coming weekend we kick off our coverage for the 2011 season by covering Nike EYBL Session I, formerly known as the Boo Williams Invitational. The question here is are the kids today overexposed? Also, how crazy is it that grown men hang on the comments of 16 year old kids? Mike Krzyzewski is the first to tell you that when the freshman come in today, they are far more adept at fitting in and producing right away. Of course, one look around the nation this season proved that major freshman impact is here to stay.
Can Duke take their freshman on their trip to China this summer? The answer is yes for they will be enrolled in school in July. Imagine your first Duke experience is balling in China and Dubai. Think that will help the freshman develop and aloow the coaches to see what they have?
If Kyrie Irving doesn't return, who will Duke go with at the starting point guard spot? Quinn Cook made a case for himself with his recent play which quieted his doubters, but do you think Tyler Thornton will roll over without a fight? The answer is no for the two went head to head in the same high school league. But wait! What about Seth Curry? Could he develop at this position as well? The bottom line is Duke will have some interesting options, but if Kyrie comes back, it is more than just a little settled.
Should Virginia Commonwealth been ranked higher than Duke in the final poll? Sure, they had a great season ... down the stretch. They beat Duke out for sixth by a single digit and I for one think most feel Duke at 32-5 had a better overall season. Is it fair to award teams with high ranking from their final run alone?
Will Duke be a top ten team next season? You bet they will. Even if UNC finds a way to keep everybody home, the Blue Devils will still be at the top of the ACC. They will be picked pre season number two in the league at the very lowest and will have the kind of team that gets better as the season goes along.
This years Butler-Connecticutt television ratings were down 18% compared to last seasons Duke-Butler game. What would the ratings have been in a rematch?
The Duke Women will lose three key seniors in Jasmine Thomas, Karima Christmas and Krystal Thomas. Will Duke still be top ten? Yes, they will. Coach P is welcoming Elizabeth Williams and Amber Henson to the fold of a group of young budding players with a pinch of upperclassmen. I think the Blue Devils will be just as good.
How tough is Duke's football schedule this season? Tougher than North Carolina's and N.C. State, that's for sure. Several ACC teams are playing cupcake schedules this season. Duke will take on a pre season top five team in Stanford at home and travel to Florida International. Hey, don't laugh at FIU who played in and won their bowl game last season. If the game was the opener, Duke would likely be a field goal underdog on the road. Duke also opens with the always dangerous Richmond Spiders. Meanwhile, our neighbors get the likes of Liberty and James Madison. The Heels toughest game outside the league is either Louisville at home or East Carolina on the road. NCSU gets Cincinnati on the road and a truck load of cup cakes beyond that.
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