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Basketball Recruiting Update

November 11, 2008 Mark Watson

Blue Devil Nation Premium has the latest hoops recruiting update up for members. Give the gift of information this Christmas to a Blue Devil fan dear to you. [private] Not too much to report on John Wall until after he meets with Coach K in person which will take place at the earliest convenience. My sources are saying that Duke feels that they will become seriously

involved with Wall and an offer is a mere formality at this point. The Wall camp has been receptive to Duke getting in late and will not hold that against them.

So far, scheduling has been the culprit. Also, there is a dead period in recruiting at this time. Many feel Wall wants to stay near home, but there are a few things which need to play out before I'd be willing to guarantee that possibility. In short, Duke is very serious about getting John Wall to wear the royal blue. I will talk to Josh Smith sometime this week. He is still on the radar and Coach Nate James has been in touch with the prospect recently.

Harrison Barnes has become a serious priority and Duke will stay on the hot prospect as much as the NCAA allows. There is a good feeling that Duke is right there with Kansas as the leaders early on. Barnes has become a bit tight lipped of late and will not talk of his meeting with K other than the basics.

Duke has been and still is going after Brandon Knight, possibly the best player in his class. I have heard from his parents that he will likely take a different path than Kenny Boynton. You know what they say though, anything can happen in recruiting. Anything can change too. For instance, Duke has explained to Wall that once they offer a kid they are faithful to him. When Boynton selected Florida, Wall got the attenation and he will soon know if he doesn't already that Duke is committed to him and him alone for the final spot in the class of 2009.

Finally, Boynton was pushed to stay in state by almost everyone close to him. I can't go into specifics, but things got a little greasy if you will. In the long run, teams can point to Nick Calathes he would be a Gator midnight before his "We shocked the world," signing party. Sometimes, kids will waste a colleges recruiting budget for their own game.

I went into the archives for this July interview with John Wall -

Monday, July 21

Wall is still wide open

by Mark Watson on Mon 21 Jul 2008 11:56 PM EDT

Before I get into this interview, let me make this clear. Kenny Boynton is the man for Duke. If something goes south they might look at John Wall and he is still open to Duke coming in. He is a very talented true speedy PG who slashes about the court and makes his teammates better with his abilty to get them the ball. During this interview, I had two cameras on me for they were filming for a documentary on the process surrounding Wall. You never know what might happen in recruiting.

The last time I talked to you was in Durham during the TOC, has anything changed since then?

Not really. I am still wide open and trying to get schools to come in. The schools that are coming at me the hardest are Memphis and Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky and NC State so far. Those are the ones coming the hardest but I think other schools are going to come around.

The last time I talked with your coach he said you were not near a point where you would shut down the process. Does that still hold true?

Yes, that's still true, but after Vegas I'm going to narrow my list down going into my senior year. You've got to get your five ... get your business set up.

So, is there anyone that would make the top five for sure ... right now ... anyone guaranteed a visit?

No, not yet. There's a couple of schools getting close to it.

You just scored thirty points in your last game, but your team came up short. Did you miss Ryan Kelly?

Yeah, Kelly's a big part. He gives us a presence in the paint and as you could see we lacked that. We weren't playing defense and getting back. We just didn't make our shots but we played hard.

Is the AAU season taking a toll on you?

Yeah, it gets kind of tough, but you go back home. In between you just ice your knees and relax. We'll go to Vegas (Reebok) next and then I can rest for a little while before preparing for my senior year.

(I then turned my attention to his coach Dwon Clifton who is always by his side) He said -

"I think he has an idea of what he wants. I want him to be comfortable with what he does. He has a lot of talent and I encourage him to get better and stronger. I mean, now that people knows who he is some of the flaws he could once get away with he will now have to develop. Now, everyone is going to start to push him and pull him and try to get him to go against his people and get him to feel like no one can tell him anything. This world can eat him up. I've seen it happen to too many players, myself included. (played at Clemson). I don't want that to be the case with him."

So, will your coach be a big part of the process?

He's like a bigger brother to me. I don't have one like that so he fills in. With DC ... we can go out and stuff and just have a good time. He's trying to develop me through this process because he went through it at Clemson. So, when I make my decision, I am going to ask him or talk to him about it.

Who are some of the toughest guys you've gone against on the circuit?

Tommy Mason here. He's really tough.

What does John Wall need to work on for his game to get better?

I've got to get stronger, work on my jump shot, defense, lateral movement ... there's a lot of stuff I can work on. You just can't stop when you get on top. I have some God given ability but I need to keep working because everybody else will.

What keeps you motivated?

Playing for my Dad. He died when I was ten years old. My Mom, my sister .. just want to get them to a better place.

How long have you known your Coach?

I knew him from the AAU circuit when I was about 14, but he really started coming in in the last two years talking to me. Now he's my AAU coach and gives me advice.

Of the ACC schools, you mentioned NC State. With you playing highs school ball down the road, do they push hard?

They come and visit every game they can. Duke came to a couple of my games this year. Carolina came to a couple.

You've been to some of there games too, right?

Yes, I have been to a couple of Duke games and a Carolina game.

How did you like the atmosphere at those schools?

It's a good atmosphere.. crazy, people are going crazy everywhere at Duke and UNC ... all those fans.

Did Duke contact you at one time or are they in touch?

Coach Dawkins and Coach K came to a couple of my games. They said they wanted to start recruiting me and stuff like that. I took their advice and came to the TOC and was able to play a game in Cameron.

Have they been in touch since that time?

Uhhh .. I haven't talked to them since Coach Dawkins got the job at Stanford.

UNC?

No, haven't heard from them.

Thanks for your time and I wish you luck in choosing the right school. [/private]

BDN Premium Articles, Duke Basketball, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

Behind the scenes practice update and John Wall tidbits

November 5, 2008 Mark Watson

K-ments - During some recent practices, Coach K shared some thoughts about his team. He stated that Marty Pocius was one of the teams better three point shooters and that they would try to get him the ball in good position when he entered the game. Marty has been playing surprisingly well, especially on the offensive end of the court. He's still not the best defensive player, but he should provide some good depth in the back court. The biggest plus is that Pocius has learned the system and knows where to be on the court. [private] Now, if he can only drop Olek some hints.

He said that he hoped Elliot Williams could fill some of the roles that DeMarcus Nelson did this past season. He likes Williams versatility and his ability to play good on ball defense on the perimeter. He also mentioned that Williams was a good spot up shooter. Williams played very well against Virginia Union and we'll see how he does this evening against Lenoir Rhyne. However, in my views, he has a ways to go to get use to the size and speed of the college game. When I talk of speed, in Williams case he needs to slow down a bit and let the game come to him. This will come in time as will his strength, but expect K to bring him along at well, K's pace.

Coach also said that Duke would get out and run. With their depth, he plans on pushing the ball and he seems as if he will go to the bench early and often. He once again mentioned how important it was to keep Kyle Singler fresh and how having a deeper front line wold help.

He also said his team was healthy overall and that he hoped that would carry through the season. "We have 14 healthy guys ready to go," said Krzyzewski.

"Do it, hear it, see it!" K barked that out as he stopped practice on several occasions. He meant for his team to talk a play through, see it later on film or at a half speed walk through and to then "do it."

K worked his team very hard with ACC Officials last week. He then carried that over into more work, knowing and saying his team was tired. He had a no contact practice after that, wanting to see how his team responded the next day when they went through two full practices in one day. He was pleased with the results.

The Big Three- "Gerald, Kyle and Jon are the guys we will build around. They are our best players. That doesn't mean a Nolan Smith or Greg Paulus couldn't lead the team in scoring. It simply means that these are the guys we feel comfortable building around, much like what we did in the Olympic. We feel if the rest of the team can fit in around them, then we'll have a chance to be really good. Don't get me wrong, we have some good players, but these three are our best." - Coach K

Jon Scheyer has played wonderfully in practice and worked his butt off all summer. When prospects came to visit, they all mentioned Scheyer. When teams are picked by individuals, he goes first or to the next guy with the second and third picks. He has shown more leadership and his defense on the ball has vastly improved.

Kyle Singler is the smartest player on the court when he's out there and that is often. Expect a fresh Singler to really blossom as the season progresses. He has worked with Miles Plumlee to make him a better player and the two get along on and off the court.

Gerald Henderson is becoming a man among boys. He is physically better than he's ever been and he looks like a future NBA player with his ability to go inside and out. He is capable of making the jump to All American.

No secret anymore- Miles Plumlee has proved that he has a very well rounded game. He plays smart, runs the floor well, has good hands and nice ball handling to go with a mid range offense game. He also finishes nicley and has good hops. His Dad told me he was under appreciated and you know what? That won't last much longer. I do expect he will struggle at times with veteran big men, but this kid has earned the starting nod as a freshman and that's a heck of an accomplishment.

The latest on John Wall- Wall will get together sometime soon with Coach K and the Duke staff. At that time both will figure out how they will proceed. Wall canceled his weekend visit with Memphis and I expect we will know whether Duke has offered no later than Monday.

Sorry for the delays in reporting of late due to computer attack. It happens. I lost two informative articles, but some of the info is a bit old now. I will still go back over some practice notes and dig up the pertinent information in the coming week. It looks like the Josh Smith interview will come next week, due to and overload in covering Duke vs NCSU in football, tonight's game, preparing player profiles and Monday and Tuesday's opener. Thanks for your patience during this time.[/private]

BDN Premium Articles, Duke Basketball

Behind the scenes – Practices are providing a preview of what to expect

November 3, 2008 Mark Watson

We will get the ball rolling on our coverage from this past weekend, starting with some of Coach K's comments and my take on the pecking order. I have now seen, 5 practices, the Blue-White and Virginia Union game and some individual workouts. This has given me enough looks to form what I consider a valid opinion. I will be examining the team in a close manner, breaking players down individually in segments. At the bottom of the page is Brian Zoubek. The next installment will feature four more players. Of course, I will see the Lenoir Rhyne game on Wednesday night and incorporate those thoughts into the analogies as well. There will be plenty more of Coach K comments coming too. There will be a thread on the premium message board, where you can ask questions, and I will add them into the articles. If you are not signed up for the message board, please do so. If you are signed up and yet to be approved, send me the user name you chose and e-mail me that information at watzonebdp@gmail.com. Premium members will also get an updated state of recruiting report and the usual interviews with key prospects. For non members, step inside for the latest skinny for we'd love to have you aboard.

So, whats the pecking order looking like? [private]

The lineup- Make no mistake in that the starting lineup to this point is Nolan Smith, Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer and Mason Plumlee. Coach has gone with this lineup since the second practice.

First off the bench- Greg Paulus, Lance Thomas, Dave McClure, Elliot Williams

Close behind- Brian Zoubek, Marty Pocius

When the game is in control- Olek Czyz, Steve Johnson

What is K saying about his team?

"We have three great players, those being Gerald Henderson, Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer. That's not to say that a Nolan Smith or a Greg Paulus might not lead us in scoring, but that's the three stars we are built around."

"As you can see, we are a deep team and it gives us a lot to work with. This team should be a good rebounding team in that we can keep fresh guys on the court at all times."

"We're going to be good, we are good, we can be really good and make a run for it all."

"I want my team talking. Communication is one of the most important things in basketball. We want guys telling their teammates where to go - a shared vision. We want out guys to call for the ball."

"Miles is going to be a good player. He can do a lot of things. He walked on to the track team as a senior and jumped for a school record. He can be good for us."

Brian Zoubek - Brian is still recovering from the lack of cardio training he missed when injured. The injury has not impeded his movement, which is still more mechanical than reactionary. Duke has been using him thus far to simply plug the middle. The players do not hesitate to challenge him in practice, especially his former roomate Jon Scheyer. Both players now live alone, a perk for upper classmen. What he does right - when he positions himself, it's hard for defenders to shoot anything over him. He has developed a bit of a hook shot and is using the glass right underneath the basket in an efficient manner. He moves fairly well for a big guy and is not moved too easily from the lane when his feet are planted. What needs work - he is sometimes positioned wrong defensively with concerns to the baseline drives and cuts. Brian has little hops and does not explode to the basket. How he'll be used - Duke will look for him to log fifteen minutes a game and keep teams out of the lane. He will play more against teams with top notch frontcourts and less when Duke can go small. [/private]

Duke Basketball, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

2010 prospect Tyler Thornton prepares to visit Duke

September 11, 2008 Mark Watson

[private]This weekend could eventually prove to be fruitful for Duke Basketball as two top notch uncommitted prospects are ready to head a few hours south for unofficial visits. One of those prospects is PG Tyler Thornton who plays his high school ball for Gonzaga in D.C. and his AAU ball for DC Assault.

BDNP caught up with Tyler as he prepared for school the next day and of course his pending visit to Durham. He will be down with his parents from Saturday until Monday, which will give them the opportunity to get a feel for the campus, program and classroom atmosphere.

When asked of his Duke recruitment, Thornton stated, "Coach Wojo has been in touch the most, but I've been in contact with all the assistants." He stated that he was excited to get to see the campus again and be there with friends.

"I look forward to hanging out with the guys, Andre, Josh and Mason - just to hang out with them will be good." Thornton is very good friends with Hairston, the two talking frequently on the phone. "Josh is one of my best friends, I've spent the whole spring and summer with him - every weekend, every week. We have a tight bond with each other, especially on the court. I know where to get him the ball - where he likes to get the ball - how he likes to get the ball."

He stated that he would like to play with Josh if possible. Well, it is possible and just Duke and Georgetown are on both youngsters list. "It would be nice to play with each other in college.

When asked of what he looked for in a school, he stated, "A great coaching staff - somewhere I could be myself and spend four years. Somewhere where I won't feel like I have to transfer to another schools if I'm not doing well with the team. I just want to be happy for four years during my college career."

Like Hairston, Thornton maintains that he will make a decision before his high school season, but he did say it was possible he might make an early choice, but that he felt he would wait and sit down and talk it over with his parents before making a decision public. "We can't be too quick to jump, we have to come back home and talk about it and analyze the situation. We will just wait until that time comes to let the world know."

I asked Thornton to describe his game in his on words for people that haven't seen him play. He responds, "A leader, a person who loves to hustle, unselfish on the offensive end. I never get mad when I don't get the ball or get a certain amount of shots during a game. I just love to win - a person who plays with a passion and does anything he can to help his team win."

Thornton stated that his high school team had one of their greatest teams in their history, winning every tournament they faced going 34-1 and taking the title. Despite losing the leading scorer and half of the team, Thornton still plans on doing it again. One thing that is obvious when talking to Thorton, he is a competitor.

His list going into the weekend is Duke, Stanford, Villanova and Georgetown.

We will have Thornton's thoughts after the visit on Blue Devil Nation Premium. This article is but a small sample of the current information overload that awaits you as a member. Currently up is a talk with Josh Hairston on the eve of his visit and an extrememly informative recruiting and team update.[/private]

Duke Basketball, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

Kenny Boynton sets up his official visit to Duke

September 10, 2008 Mark Watson

[private]Olympic Gold Medal winning basketball coach, Mike Krzyzewski, Chis Collins and Nate James visited the Boynton household last evening and came away having set up an official visit.

Kenny will visit Duke officially the weekend of October 24-25 weekend, which he'll be able to take in the Virginia Union exhibition game.

For more details, you must be a member of BDN Premium where you can discuss it more on our premium only message board.

Boynton is one of the nations top rated prospects and is down to six schools.[/private]

Duke Basketball, Duke Basketball Recruiting News

Coach K and company set to visit Kenny Boynton Jr.

September 8, 2008 Mark Watson

[private]The Duke Men's Basketball staff will be more than just a little busy this week. On the first day that they can be back out on the road, which is tomorrow evening, Coach K and company will have an in home with Kenny Boynton Jr. and his family.

Boynton is one of the nations top guards, arguably the best in the class of 2009. Duke has been recruiting him consistently for a long time. He reminds most Blue Devil faithful of Jason Williams. Williams won a national title, was named national POY which led to him being a lottery pick in the NBA draft. Like Boynton, Williams was a offensive scoring machine that could play both guard spots, but he settled in on the point at Duke where he learned the trade from Coach K.

Long the buzz of various basketball crazy Duke message boards, Boynton is a prospect that fans dearly want to see rock Cameron. There is a heated battle for his services and he's maintained all along that he would take his five official visits.

Florida has really turned it up for Boynton, attempting to make a move while Krzyzewski was coaching Team USA to the Gold Medal. Boyntons friend, Eloy Vargas is already a Gator and he is of course from the sunshine state like his friend.

If Boynton were to choose Duke he would remain in the constant media spotlight of a team which has every game televised and one which is in the basketball fanatical ACC. He could very well be the focus of any school he chooses in a list that includes USC, Memphis, Georgia Tech and Texas along with Duke and Florida.

Florida will come in the night after the Duke staff, but you can bet that there will be a lot to think about in the Boynton household. While UF has a wonderful basketball program, they sometimes play second fiddle to Gator Football. Still, the local allure might be as attractive as the national spotlight and playing for a living legend in Coach K.

In the end, the decision should come down to where can he better prepare for his goal of the NBA and which school will continue to support him once he is in the league. College will be nothing more than a temporary stop for the talented Boynton but his choice will go a long ways in defining him as a future player.

Make no mistake that the Blue Devils covet and care about young Boynton. They want him to be a part of what looks to be a very talented team. Duke will always compete for national prominence, but the addition of Boynton would be another step towards a national championship.

The staff has layed it on the line and Blue Devil fans have followed his every AAU move. Now all they can hope for is that Boynton sees the golden opportunity available for him in Durham.

Blue Devil Nation Premium has covered Kenny Boynton from the very start and you can follow the process even closer by becoming a member. You can subscribe here. We will be moving to our new home very soon![/private]