The NBA Top 100 Camp got underway in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday afternoon. Duke has a few prospects here including David McCormack who is slated to visit the Blue Devils campus this Saturday.
McCormack has been solid averaging 10.5 ppg and leading all camp players by pulling down 10.0 rebounds per contest. He is playing for the Bucks where his teammate is Cole Swider who also holds a Duke offer.
Swider is the 9th leading scorer in the camp at 11.5 ppg despite playing just 14 minutes after being injured in his second game. Swider had nice things to say about the Blue Devils as did McCormack which is covered in detail on our premium message board.
In other camp notes, Matthew Hurt is averaging 10.5 ppg and Duke has shown interest in him. UNC bound Coby White is the 2nd leading scorer here to date at 20.0 ppg. Also impressive is Simisola Shttu who is putting up numbers of 23 ppg and 8.5 boards
Trevon Duval decided to play his college basketball career with Duke University. Duval is rated the top point guard prospect in the nation and will start immediately at Duke.
''Basketball has taken me from Queens, to Delaware, to places I never even dreamed of when I first started dribbling. I couldn’t have made it here without my dad, who has always kept me hungry, and my mom, who has always kept me humble. And with their blessing, today, I’m ready to announce the next step in my journey.''
Jon Scheyer and Chris Collins at the Nike EYBL Session I in Hampton, Virginia
Day one of the Nike EYBL Session I is in the books as several Duke prospects kicked off the season in Hampton, Virginia.
The most impressive performance came from big time prospect Cameron Reddish who came alive in the second half when Duke Assistant Coach Jon Scheyer showed up. Reddish led Team Final to an easy win, tallying 24 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.
Another key target is the brother of Tyus Jones. Tre is his own player and he continues to make a name for himself. His Howard Pulley team lost a close game in their opener. He finished the night with 12 points, 8 assists and 3 rebounds.
Point Guaed, Darius Garland had 14 points, tying for a team high and 5 assists, but his Bradley Beal Elite team lost a close game. Another Duke prospect R.J. Barrett was not in uniform for UPLAY Canada. No reason is known as to why at this time.
Marvin Bagley III had 27 points and 10 rebounds but his team lost a low scoring game.
Several new names on the radar performed well as Jon Scheyer took time to watch several players play about one half each. We will be talking about those new names on the BDN message board in the coming days. Mike Krzyzewski is expected to come in town tomorrow. Already in attendance were Roy Williams, John Calipari and Steve Alford, amongst others.
Former Duke players and coaches Johnny Dawkins of Central Florida and Chris Collins of Northwestern were also at the event. Both Duke alums are coming off huge seasons with their respective teams.
Coming soon, several interviews which include Cameron Reddish and Tre Young. The event continues at the crack of dawn tomorrow and runs through Sunday.
One of the nations last major uncommitted prospects will entertain Duke this Wednesday night. Kevin Knox announced that he would have in home visits with four schools before deciding on where he would attend college.
North Carolina and Missouri will visit the Knox family on Wednesday followed by Duke and Mike Krzyzewski. This will come after Florida State and Kentucky visit this evening.
Duke is selling Knox on replacing Jayson Tatum in their lineup. Tatum will be among three more first round draft picks for Duke in the coming NBA Draft. The Blue Devils will also pitch that they have the pedigree of getting players to the next level and not holding their players back.
Knox has long been on the Blue Devils wish list where the staff has made him a priority early on in the process.
Cameron Redish right, is picture with fellow Duke prospects Zion Williamson, Tre Jones and Blue Devils to be Wendell Carter and Gary Trent. - BDN Photo
One of the top players on the Nike EYBL circuit is Cameron Reddish and he is getting plenty of attention from the Duke Basketball staff. In fact, he has been to Cameron Indoor Stadium on numerous occasions already where it is clear he likes the Blue Devils.
Just this past season, Reddish had his named called out by the Cameron Crazies where they cheered, ''Cameron Reddish, sit with us,'' during a Duke home game. Reddish smiled widely and immediately leapt to his feet and made his way to stand with the students. It was as if he had been waiting anxiously for the invite.
The Duke staff most recently visited Reddish in home at Haverton, Pennsylvania. Jeff Capel and Jon Scheyer flanked Mike Krzyzewski as they explained how he would fit in at Duke, making sure he knew he was a priority target.
Reddish most recently told Made.Hoops.com about the visit where he stated, “It was fun, I thought it was a great visit,” said Reddish. “We talked about what I need to work on and how they are going to help me get to where I want to be. Coach K spoke on how and where he would play me if I were to go there. He sees me as the key piece to that team and that I could help them recruit other players if I were to commit. Those were a couple of his key points to me.”
“He is legendary so about ten minutes into the meeting I was saying to myself, ‘wow this is crazy he is really in my house right now,’ said Reddish. “I tried to soak up all the knowledge I possibly could from him. He has a lot of great information so I made sure to listen to everything he had to say.”
Duke has in the past zeroed in on players who have responded well to their pitch. They then become the guys who help recruit other players to play around them. Ideally, Reddish would fit into this mold in a big way should he realize that his future lies at Duke.
The Blue Devils staff will certainly concentrate their efforts on Reddish as he takes to the court during the Nike EYBL Session I in Hampton, Virginia later this month.
Reddish has all the tools as a player that Duke covets and he has played for USA Basketball which is another plus. There are plenty of reasons to feel good about where the Blue Devils stand in his recruitment for this seems to be a good fit for both player and school.
The star to be small forward prospect with a sold skill set can be followed at Killa@camreddish on Twitter and seen playing for Team Final on the Nike EYBL circuit.
Reddish hold several offers, most notably from Duke, Kentucky and Villanova. I feel very good about the Blue Devils chances with this sold prospect.
The 2017 late signing date started yesterday with very little news from current Duke prospects. The Duke Blue Devils already have the pledges of Gary Trent Jr., Wendell Carter Jr., and Alex O'Connell but they seek to round out their roster after three players elected to enter the NBA Draft, two senior starters graduate and two informed the staff they would transfer.
The Blue Devils are also awaiting a decision from rising senior Grayson Allen, who may enter the NBA Draft or test the waters. Whether Allen returns or not, that leaves the Duke staff in need or more bodies to fill the roster.
Duke has long been recruiting its three remaining targets. And each of them have visited Duke; some on multiple occasions. Those three prospects have yet to announce their college destination and each of them are highly rated young men with many suitors.
Kevin Knox is a player who could step into the role left void by the departure of Jayson Tatum. His camp most recently pushed their decision back to the end of April and possibly into May. Of the three remaining targets, Knox may well be the last to sign his letter of intent.
Knox is being recruited hard by Florida State, Kentucky, North Carolina and most recently Missouri. Many analyst think the Tigers entering the picture late had an effect on his pushing back a decision, while others think he is simply waiting to see how rosters shake out.
There is perhaps no more open situation than North Carolina, where Justin Jackson just entered his name into the NBA draft. There is still a possibility that Joel Berry could do so as well and many are waiting to see if Tony Bradley, who is currently testing the waters hires and agent. The Tar Heels would be majorly depleted if two of the three leave, possibly making them a less attractive situation. And we also must consider a possibly rules violation probation should the NCAA move on past accusations.
Duke would like to see Kevin Knox in a Jayson Tatum type of role.
Kentucky is much more settled as is Florida State where the players who have entered the NBA Draft will almost assuredly stay in and sign with agents per sources. Missouri is the wildcard after a coaching change and addition of Cuonzo Martin and then landing Michael Porter Jr., Blake Harris and having PG prospect CJ Roberts stick around.
The Blue Devils offer basketball in a constant limelight and facilities at the highest level and a track record of getting players to the NBA. In fact, those numbers swell even more considering they will have three more first round selections this season. They are firmly in the race for Knox, despite what some may say.
One of the most important prospects left on the board for Duke is point guard, Trevon Duval. The kid can run the show from day one at Duke surrounded by talented pieces if he chooses to do so. Duval is being recruited hard by Arizona, Kansas and Seton Hall as well.
Trevon Duval can drive the team if he so chooses.
Kansas and Arizona have been legit contenders all the way through the process and both offer attractive situations. Seton Hall is likely there out of respect and I mean no disrespect in saying that. They are the hometown team that is going up against the heavyweights of college basketball.
Duval most recently said that he would announce his decision in style and consult with his father on how to do so. He has also said his decision would come at the end of the month during the flurry of high school all star games of late.
Duke has been all in on Duval, identifying him as the nations best point guard and the one they want to drive the team. The Blue Devils had a good visit with Duval during the North Carolina game in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Current Blue Devils in the fold, Wendell Carter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. have been openly working Duval and other prospects during the various all star games and both were on hand when Duval visited Duke with his family. One would have to think that Duke is a major player for his services and a favorite with what they have to offer.
Perhaps no player has turned more heads of late than Mo Bamba. He is long, agile and college ready. The NBA will have to wait on Bamba for now in that he will soon make his college choice as a certain one and done player.
Mo Bamba in Cameron. Duke prospects decisons are coming soon.
Bamba told USA Today Sports, “I don’t have a timeline,” Bamba said. “I have to reflect on each university and each school. I honestly think I can play with anyone. I hate to brag, but I think I’m that good of a teammate.
He's right and any of the schools on his list would love to have him. That list is made up of Duke, Kentucky, Michigan and Texas. Some analyst feel Kentucky and Texas have the edge, but Bamba has been methodical and grounded in is handling of the process.
Duke will have to wait a little longer to hear where these three young mean choose to play. But the Blue Devils staff have made each of them know of their value and offer a great situation to succeed and get to the next level.
If I were to guess, Bamba or Duval could make their decision made known first and Knox will likely take a while. Duke would take two out of the three and be happy or gladly take them all.
The timeline for signing national letters of intent started yesterday and runs to May 17th. The Duke staff will likely be on the recuiting trail later this month seeking 2018-19 players to be before hearing of some of the 2017 Duke prospects decisions.
The NBA Top 100 Camp got underway in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday afternoon. Duke has a few prospects here including David McCormack who is slated to visit the Blue Devils campus this Saturday.
