Tag Archives: BDN Premium

Duke Basketball Recruiting Update (Public)

July 25, 2018 Mark Watson

The Duke Men's Basketball staff is once again on the recruiting trail in full force as the open period begins. The Blue Devils have been active with many players of late, extending new offers and setting a list for future prospects while trying to close on current ones.

The staff is busy in more ways than one. With the Canadian trip fast approaching, this is a time when everyone must take their vitamins. A demanding schedule means time management, yet that seems to be something a Mike Krzyzewski led program thrives on.

Duke is fortunate to have four assistant coaches, if you count Nolan Smith that have all won national championships. That knowledge combined with individual experiences offers them communication skills and knowing what kind of team they need to build for future success.

So far, Duke has yet to land a single player for next seasons class, but it is just a matter of time. Duke is not hurt in the least by players waiting in that they can see firsthand starting in August of how they blend high school players into roles with the team.

With the one and done rule in effect, Duke is still looking at young men who can jump straight to the league. The Blue Devils also realize that current players on the team will play a role in who comes next if they turn pro early.

That makes for a mixed bag in how to fill the roster, but it is an envious situation for the program. Duke has zeroed in on several players, so we now have a good idea who will possibly fill the 2019-2020 roster.

It makes sense that Duke could lose all of their starters for a second year in a row, if the team has success and especially if they are lucky enough to win it all. Many things play a role in when the best time for some players to go pro is at hand. Others are destined to go already despite not dribbling a ball in an actual game in Duke uniform.

Duke will spend a lot of time in the many tournaments in Las Vegas this week. While there, they will try to close on some guys in this class while hanging in with others who will make late or next Fall decisions.

Among the players which have standing offers are Cole Anthony (PSA Cardinals/Nike) who is hands down the best guard in his class and the son of former UNLV standout, Greg Anthony. Anthony is on the cover of the latest Slam magazine and sure to garner more hype but he will not pick a team until the Fall of 2019 when all the fallout has occurred.

A player who will make an earlier selection which holds an offer is Bryan Antoine (Team Rio/Under Armor). The shooting guard has long had Duke at the top of his list and will visit campus on September the 29th. It helps that he is friends with current Duke freshman Joey Baker who continues to help the staff recruit. He is also a very likable player on the shoe camp circuit who may players want to play with.

Vernon Carey (E1T1/Nike) has long been near the top of the high school rated players. He is top three on every list and he has included Duke in his final teams. Carey will visit Duke during Countdown to Craziness in October and he will likely have some company in the stands at that time. Duke has been all in on Carey for some time now and he will be a center of focus for them this week.

Another player Duke is heavily recruiting is Wendell Moore (CP-3/Nike). Duke most recently visited Greensboro to see him play where they had multiple staff members at all of his games. Moore is their wing of choice but he is being heavily recruited by other schools as well. He will visit the Duke campus on September the 21st and through the weekend.

A player Coach K loves for his non stop motor is big man Isaiah Stewart (City Rocks/Nike). Stewart is the real deal and he is slated to visit Duke for the UNC game in Cameron but those plans could be changed and he may visit earlier. Duke is considered one of the leaders for this young man and they've seen enough. And it is good they've seen enough for Stewart has elected to sit out this week and will another Duke target in guard, Josiah James. Duke has been on the 6-6 PG for a while now and they will likely seek a visit in the coming months. The guard situation is a bit more complicated which I speak openly about on the message board for members. In fact, I go into much more than just the general list in this article for Blue Devil Nation members. There will be an extended update tomorrow which goes into more details on the targets and new offers which will go out soon. So, consider joining Blue Devil Nation Premium where you can currently get two years for the price of one during our BOGO special.

Okay, back to subject at hand. Duke loves Matthew Hurt (D-1 Minnesota). Coach K himself is running front on this one and that is a good thing for Kansas and others covet this talented player and Self was able to recently coach him. Duke will check him out this week and our members know the details from past updates. Hurt is a Duke kind of player and one they will push for until the end. It won't be an easy road for his service in that it is so competitive but it would be a rewarding one and a great match.

Say hello to Nico Mannion (West Coast Elite/Under Armor). Okay, so you knew about him from past updates, but he has recently reclassified to the class of 2019 and Duke has an offer out and will scout him even heavier in the coming week. For those who do not know, Mannion is a USA PG which is the kind of player a Krzyzewski coached team covets in that he loves those who have represented the country. Of course, Mannion was not originally from the US which you can see in past updates, but he will continue his ascent to his dreams at a college in 2019-2020.

Duke has also done more than kick the wheels on Armando Bacot who was very impressive with his team in Nike play. Duke wants three front court players and that could include him if two aforementioned players look elsewhere, so there remains consistent contact.

I expect we'll see another front court player offered once the evaluation period ends, if not two. Duke has and will scout Jaden McDaniels, Jaiden Delaire and Drew Timme. They also have some names in place if things get tight with Moore.

The players which Duke may get early from our last update has not changed. BDN will cover that again tomorrow along with the new players which are becoming fixtures for the future.

BDN Premium Articles, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

Plain and simple, Tyus Jones is a winner

May 2, 2013 Mark Watson

HAMPTON, VA -- One of the things you can depend on when watching Team Howard Pulley in action during the Nike EYBL circuit, is that point guard Tyus Jones is always going to show. I've covered the AAU circuit in person for about a decade now, and along the way there have been a few special players who always seem to have their team in the game and with whom you can feel confident that when the ball is in their hands at crunch time, good things will happen.

The best prospect I have ever seen in this regard was former Duke PG Kyrie Irving, now an NBA stud. Irving, though, was special and that made you want to watch all of his games. Jones may [private] not be in Irving's elite class, but he's not far from it, for he has that gift of squeezing out the best from his teammates, even when they are not the most talented bunch.

More so than ever this EYBL season, Jones has had that special presence. He wants the ball when the game is on the line. Whether it is scoring the ball, getting off a tough pass to a teammate, or finding a way to get to the line, Jones thinks on the fly with the best of them. And he demonstrated all of that this past weekend in Hampton.

Another thing I noticed is that Jones is starting to get his opponents' best shot every time out, as players try to prove themselves against the best, in front of the various talent evaluators at these events, and boost their own rankings in the process. One such game where Jones stood out was a match-up against Wisconsin Elite and star guard Rashad Vaughn, a fellow Minnesota standout being recruited by the likes of UNC and others. The two went at it all game long in front of a bevy of America's best coaches, including Duke head man Mike Krzyzewski, who never missed a minute of any of Jones' games.

In a close, high-scoring game, Jones once again took over down the stretch. It started on the defensive end with a key steal, leading to his drawing a foul which helped Howard Pulley tie the game. With a minute left in the game and the score tied, Jones wiggled free for a three-point dagger. A game Wisconsin Elite team answered, cutting the lead to 81-80, but Jones iced the game with another three-pointer, giving his team an 84-80 win in one of the session's better games.

"Up and down, more of a motion offense and style," Jones stated post-game when asked what kind of team he wants to play for in college. It was easy to see from his performance that this is a kid who could man the controls with ease for a program like Duke.

As you have seen in our other interviews, Jones is saying he wants to make a Fall decision, but if you are looking for a tip on where he is leaning, you are unlikely to get it from the many interviews he does. Jones is quick to crack a smile but he has a serious poker face as well. He knows how to navigate the unsteady waters of recruiting and the recruiting media just as effectively as he does a defense when he enters the lane.

"In the college game, I just try to watch all the point guards and take bits and pieces from each one. In the NBA, I love watching Chris Paul and how he takes apart the game," said Jones post-game.

It's no wonder why Krzyzewski has taken such a liking to Jones and wants to coach him, for he is a good Duke fit and a player the Blue Devils would like to grow even more.

When asked what he would work on as the summer begins, Jones said, "Just overall speed and strength."

Jones is a cool customer on the court, never out of control and an assist machine. In the past, it's amazed me how much he stuffs the stat sheet in that his smooth performances are not choppy in nature but almost like a silent, steady killer. In other words, you think he has 16 and 5 only to find out he has 28 points and 12 assists. He just blends in without being overly flashy like some players try to be in an effort to be noticed.

I joked with Tyus, whose mom liked the name from having heard of former UCLA guard Tyus Edney, that he was like "Jack Frost" on the hardwood, cool and deadly. That earned a little smile for he is not the type to pound you with cocky assertions while being interviewed.

"I'm just trying to make plays, that is what I am always trying to do. My teammates have been playing great this weekend, so I feel I owe it to them to make a play down the stretch and that's what I've tried to do the last two games," said Jones, always one to defer to his teammates after a win.

Jones is a competitor. He just finds ways to help his team win. He's a young man well aware that not all the teams playing now will end up in a steamy Augusta, South Carolina come July for the Nike Peach Jam. If you get the opportunity to see Jones in person, look at the determination on his face as he drives a crowded lane and watch how he finds the best opportunity presented him, taking advantage of any little weakness by his defenders.

"Definitely, definitely. Peach Jam is the ultimate goal, so every win you can get whether it's by one point or fifty points, each one is key," said Jones when I asked him of his drive and the importance he seemingly placed on every game.

"Competitive game, overtime, it was a great game," I said to Jones.

Jones agreed. "It was. It was a great game. Going back and forth all game long, there is nothing better than good competition, so it was fun."

And it is becoming fun to watch Tyus Jones and how he finds ways to help his Howard Pulley team win. [/private]

Duke Basketball

Duke Post Game Wrap – Amile Jefferson and Alex Murphy chat up BDN

December 1, 2012 Mark Watson

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke's true freshmen Amile Jefferson and Alex Murphy got extended minutes in the Duke win over Delaware, which allowed both to further develop their games. Both thought the experience could be used as a springboard for the future. BDN caught up with the duo post-game to get their thoughts on the game and the process of growth as a player -

For more player interviews, join BDN Premium for full site access.

Duke Basketball, Duke Football, Monday Musings

BDN Weekend Notebook – Still celebrating Gold and Meet the Devils in Football

August 17, 2012 Mark Watson

What an exciting time of year this has been for Duke fans. Coach K has returned from London with his blokes in tow -- that's assistants Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski, mate -- and with Gold. And football is just two weeks away from kickoff ...

You need a map and compass to keep up with the various appearances Mike Krzyzewski has been making since he returned from the other side of the pond. Amazingly, Coach was the first one in the Duke Basketball offices the day after he got back, which is a testament to his dedication and hard work. Here at BDN, we're still trying to figure out ways of saying thanks for all that he does.

Meet the Devils goes off tomorrow at the Paschall Field House at around 6:00 PM. Paschal is the new facility in the end zone of Wallace Wade, and once you see it you will know that Duke Football is making the necessary moves to compete in the increasingly difficult ACC. This is a serious facility. Free posters, refreshments, drawings for prizes and such will take place. It's a great time to meet the football team in an "up close and personal" environment, and you'll be able to take pictures with your favorite players as well. Come on out if you can!

Staying with the pigskin, check out this in-depth question and answer feature on the ACC Sports Journal web site, where BDN Football Analyst Patrick Cacchio chats with Jim Young about the Duke program and this year's team. Jim made no bones about putting Patrick on the hot seat, and our man predicts a 5-7 season against a pretty dern tough schedule, both in and out of conference. For instance, Duke has to face Florida State and Clemson from the other division, while UNC gets Maryland and Wake Forest.

The pressure is already building for the opener against Florida International, who returns 18 starters from a season ago, when they went to the Beef O'Brady's Bowl. The Panthers dominate the Phil Steele Preview Magazine's All-Sun Belt pre-season team, with 10 players on first or second team. In last season's meeting down in Miami, the Panthers badly outgained Duke in total yardage, but the Blue Devils prevailed because they did not turn the ball over and they capitalized on FIU's only turnover to pull it out late by the score of 31-27. Undoubtedly seeking revenge, the Panthers will have their ears pinned back and be ready to rumble; in many circles FIU will be considered the favorite. It will be a heck of an early test for the Devils, and they'll need Wallace Wade to be packed and ready.

Patrick also has an interview up where he recaps the latest Duke verbal commitment, California running back Joseph Ageigbe. This is verbal number fifteen for the program, which really does seem headed in the right direction.

With all of that going on, Andrew Slater's latest interviews have been flying a bit under the radar at BDN Premium. Slater has set the gold standard when it comes to getting to know these hoops prospects. One recent post profiles The Rockwell Rifleman, Austin Grandstaff who is a young combo guard out of the Dallas area that we talked to at the Nike Peach Jam and then followed up with in Las Vegas. Then there's the Rebel with a Future, KavonLooney, a good-looking prospect from Milwaukee who has been catching the eyes of many scouts. There is also Explosive Potential-An interview with Robert Hubbs focussing on the Tennessee wing who continues his rise in the rankings, and finally the star wing out of Houston is profiled in And Justise for All-The Justise Winslow interview. As a paying subscriber you have full access to all of these articles and can talk recruiting and more on our members-only message board, where you will get all the latest scoop.

BDN will cover today's closed session football scrimmage and we'll have photos galore. Be sure to check out the previous pictures from Photo Day here and we will be adding more as time allows.

Duke Basketball

Duke Basketball Notebook – A busy month ahead!

June 26, 2012 Mark Watson

In this week's edition of Duke Basketball Notebook, we've got a number of things going on in and around the program that we wanted to let you in on. As you probably can imagine, there is no off-season for Duke Basketball and this month and the rest of summer feature a bevy of interesting "happenings." Let's take a look:

- The NBA Draft goes off this week and the Duke Blue Devils will have two players selected, Austin Rivers and Miles Plumlee. Rivers seems to be moving up as the draft nears, which is exactly what we told you would happen when he was initially projected to go around 17th in the first round. Rivers's transition to the NBA will likely be much easier than others' due to the guidance of his father, and perhaps NBA types are considering Doc's influence as well as the skills that Austin brings to the table. We are also going to honk our horn on Miles a bit, in that we let you know early on that the eldest Plumlee was impressing many with his measurements and skill set at pre-draft workouts. Now everybody is raving about Plumlee, and it could not be happening to a nicer kid. It also goes to show that playing less at a top flight program is sometimes better than playing a lot at a bad one. Miles wears his NCAA Championship ring with pride and we hope one day he has another ring to add to it.

- Speaking of rings, Shane Battier added another one as the Miami Heat won the NBA title. Battier played a huge role, knocking down timely three point shots and making key steals, tips, and other heady plays to help seal victories. Shane is already benefitting from the hype.

- In other NBA news, former Duke star Danny Ferry is the new General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks. Ferry has deep roots in the league through his father Bob Ferry, who was the long-time GM of the Washington franchise.

- While the rosters have yet to be officially announced, the N.C. Pro-Am kicks off later this week, and as we have been since the event's inception, Blue Devil Nation will be there to report. This event provides some of the best basketball entertainment that can be found in the dog days of summer, and the price is right -- attendance is free. This year, they've cut back to eight teams and there will be three nights of action. We'll have more on the logistics and other particulars in the coming week. But regardless, we'll be in our customary spot in the end zone, so stop by and say hello.

- The Duke Men's Basketball staff will head to Las Vegas shortly, and be gone through July 4th. Mike Krzyzewski is trying to bring another Olympic gold medal home from jolly old England this summer, and he'll have his trusty blokes, Chris Collins and Steve Wojciechowski, in tow. Several exhibition games have already been set, and we'll follow Team USA as we always have in the past, so be sure to bookmark the site for updates.

- During the coaches' absence, assistants Jeff Capel and Nate James will take center stage on the AAU circuit, so Duke will still be well represented at the great events remaining this summer, many of which BDN will cover.

- Don't forget that Alex Murphy will be playing for the Finnish National Team this summer. He will earn a lot of burn, which can only help him in the coming season. We told you long ago that Alex would be suiting up for Finland, and here is a video from last March where he spoke of his redshirt season and playing for Finland.

- Meanwhile, Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly are participating in the Amare Stoudemire Big Man Camp. If you were a BDN Premium member, you would have known about this weeks ago. Plumlee and Kelly will be seasoned senior leaders this season for Duke, and if history repeats itself, that should bode well. Having veteran leaders is big come March.

- This is the week coveted transfer Rodney Hood will suppoosedly announce his decision. Hood is down to Duke and Ohio State, and I feel good about the Blue Devils' chances. As you may have learned in an interview BDN Premium had with Hood before his senior year in high school, he grew up a Duke fan, and some say that by Thursday we will know where the long and lean prospect will be balling for the remainder of his college career. Many leakers are saying he is bound for Columbus, but our suggestion is to take a wait-and-see approach.

- For more on where other Duke players will be this summer, join BDN Premium. Speaking of our Premium service, our interviews continue to draw raves for their timeliness and their detail. Andrew Slater is doing a great job for us (as is the rest of our staff) and we invite you to join and discuss all the latest with fellow members. We have a lot of interviews coming soon, an early bird Duke hoops preview, as well as much more on the football recruiting trail, where Patrick Cacchio's work is second to none. If you are looking for a reliable source of timely information, BDN Premium is that place. In our latest offering, for example, recruiting insider Van Coleman takes a look at Duke and national prospects in an exclusive with BDN. BDN Premium features the nation's best talent scouts, from Tom Konchalski and Clark Francis to the aforementioned Coleman, to give our members the best information available from a variety of well known, tried and true sources.

- Finally, BDN is looking for a couple of people to add to our team. Most recently we have added Tom Rubinson, who will act as our lead editor and will write some feature articles as well. Tom has already added a lot to our site and his wordsmithing will be part and parcel of a new and improved BDN as we make some important changes to the site. We'll talk more about those changes when we get closer to implementing them. If you are an outstanding writer, we have a soap box for you. You must know the program well and have some experience in the field. We are looking for a person to cover "Dukies in the NBA" on a regular basis next season, and somebody to help us get more proactive and creative with our use of videos. Our football coverage has grown immensely and Patrick is looking for a sidekick to help there too. In addition, we are looking for somebody who has a keen interest in Duke Women's Basketball and who can cover their games and the program as a whole. If you have any interest in these volunteer positions or want to know more, please contact me at watzone@bluedevilnation.net

Duke Basketball Recruiting News

NBAPA Top 100 High School Camp Rosters

June 6, 2012 Mark Watson

The annual NBAPA Top 100 High School Camp will take place June 14th through June 16th in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the event -- which is closed to the public -- will feature several Duke prospects. In addition to the on-court action, this camp offers prospects the opportunity to learn from former NBA players on a wide range of issues they'll face as their careers progress. BDN plans on being there as usual to once again cover one of our favorite events of the summer. Here is a roster of the participants, which includes Jabari Parker, Marcus Lee, Semi Ojeleye, Ish Wainright, and many other high school stars: