BDN Video brings you two Duke Basketball practice clips from earlier today. We want Duke fans to get a glimpse at their 2011-12 Duke Basketball Blue Devils as Coach K and his assistants stop and offer advice. For more practice videos join Blue Devil Nation Premium for full site access and go behind the scenes.
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Coach K touched on a myriad of subjects today as his team prepares to head to China. In this video clip, Coach explains the differences in the basketballs and BDN Video shares that with you -
If you think football season is close, consider this: there is only one more Football Friday before Duke opens training camp. If that doesn’t get you excited, hopefully the rest of this column will. Early analysis suggests that this may be the longest Football Friday ever, so pace yourself!
No sales pitch this week. If you’re reading this, you already know how good BDN is. One other note: Duke football season tickets are still available, so if you haven’t got yours yet, time is running out. Away game tickets are also available, and we can say from experience that it’s a lot of fun to be part of the Duke faithful in watching a big Blue Devil road victory. Starting on August 1st, Duke will make single game home tickets available at GoDuke.
What happened?
I don’t know what else to say. Last weekend, all seemed well at the ACC Football Kickoff in Pinehurst. Though still somewhat hard to believe, Butch Davis continued to weather the storm and appeared poised to lead the Tar Heels in 2011. Then, Wednesday happened. For reasons that still remain unclear, Chancellor Holden Thorp fired Davis after a closed-door meeting with the Board of Trustees. Thursday, Athletic Director Dick Baddour announced that he will be stepping down as well, and the Tar Heels later tagged Defensive Coordinator Everett Withers as interim Head Coach. The timing of all this is puzzling, to say the least, and leaves the Tar Heel players, fans, and administration in a difficult position. In addition to the financial costs associated with Coach Davis’ termination, the Tar Heels will now have to pay off their stadium improvements. With many players, fans and boosters upset with the handling of the football scandal for one reason or another, UNC is certainly in an unenviable position. We could spend all Football Friday talking about the scandal and these recent developments, but we’ll just highlight two points:
Congratulations to Duke’s Brandon Harper
With the NFL lockout finally over, Duke’s Brandon Harper was the first former Blue Devil to earn an opportunity as a professional, signing a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. BDN wishes the best of luck to Brandon and all of the Blue Devil alumni pursuing their NFL dreams!
Dondo Files, episode 4
Duke senior receiver Donovan Varner has started a video blog, the Dondo Files, and released episode 4 this week. He has great messages for young players and fans about hard work and achieving your goals. This week, he discusses being able to take constructive criticism. With that in mind, how about more than 1 touchdown this year, Donovan? In all seriousness, though, we’re looking forward to a big year from the senior receiver and are proud to have him as a role model for young Blue Devils and players everywhere.
BDN previews continue
We hope you’re enjoying our week-by-week preview of Duke’s 2011 opponents. This week, we wrapped up Duke’s first half of the season with Tulane and Florida International, two important, but tough, games for the Blue Devils to win. After the off week, Duke will face yet another top 10 opponent in Wallace Wade Stadium as the ACC-favorite Florida State Seminoles invade Durham. Check back next week for a look at FSU along with Duke’s week 8 opponent, Wake Forest.
Last week, we took a look around the Atlantic Coast Conference, and our predictions weren’t too terribly out of line with the rest of the ACC media. The Blue Devils landed two players on the preseason All-ACC team in WR Conner Vernon and K Will Synderwine. Now that we got the ACC predictions out of the way, let’s take an in-depth look at the team that really matters - the Blue Devils. There are high hopes for a bowl game in 2011, and a lot of that may depend on how good the Duke defense can be, but the reality is that the Duke offense will have to carry this team for much of the season. For that reason, we kickoff our 2011 Duke Football Team Preview with a look at the high-flying Blue Devils’ offense. If this unit lives up to expectations, there should be plenty of excitement in Wallace Wade Stadium this fall.
BDN Duke Football 2011 Team Preview: Offense
With considerable youth and inexperience on defense, the 2011 Duke Football team will rely on a veteran offense that finished 2nd in the ACC in passing offense and 7th in total offense a year ago. While the Duke offense showed flashes of dominance in 2010, there will need to be dramatic improvements across the board if the Blue Devils hope to make a bowl in 2011.
Quarterback
Losses: none
Key returners: Sean Renfree (R-Jr.), Brandon Connette (So.)
Newcomers: Anthony Boone (R-Fr.)
2010 Review: In his first year as a starter, Sean Renfree showed glimpses of his potential, but overall was inconsistent in leading the Duke offense. In particular, Renfree struggled with turnovers, finishing the season with an ACC-high 17 interceptions. Coming off of season-ending knee surgery in 2009, Renfree’s mobility appeared to be limited at times, particularly early in the season. More importantly, and not unexpectedly, the redshirt-sophomore struggled with his confidence throughout the season, especially on the heels of Duke’s embarrassing loss to Alabama. Despite the struggles, it wasn’t all bad for Renfree. He led the Blue Devils to three wins, finished third in the ACC with 3,131 total yards and completed 61.4% of his passes, including a midseason stretch of 16 consecutive completions and 28/30 completions against Navy, both school records. The 3,131 yards were the 3rd highest total in Duke history and helped to earn him the Carmen Falcone Award as Duke’s Most Valuable Player. The biggest area for Renfree to improve is certainly turnovers, and he demonstrated tremendous growth throughout the 2010 season. After throwing 15 interceptions in the first 7 games of the season, Renfree finished the season with just 2 interceptions in the Blue Devils’ final 5 contests.
In 2010, dual-threat QB Brandon Connette served as Renfree’s primary back-up and earned significant playing time with his legs. Connette set a Duke freshman record with 8 rushing touchdowns and finished the year with 321 yards on 78 carries. He struggled to move the ball through the air when called upon, finishing just 10/22 with 2 interceptions.
2011 Outlook: Simply put, the Duke offense will rely heavily on the play of Sean Renfree. If Renfree is unable to significantly reduce his turnovers, the Blue Devils will not be bowling in 2011. Now nearly two years removed from knee surgery and with a year of starting experience under his belt, Renfree’s mobility and confidence should be drastically improved from this time last year. With three of his top four receivers returning, along with 4 of 5 offensive line starters, Renfree will be surrounded by familiar faces and will be counted on to lead the Blue Devil offense. While there is no doubt within the Duke program that Renfree is the clear starter, he will continue to be pushed by a sophomore Connette and redshirt-freshman Anthony Boone, which should only help the Duke offense. Reports from spring practice were overwhelmingly positive for all three quarterbacks and for Renfree in particular. Coach Cutcliffe has anointed Renfree as the best returning quarterback in the ACC in 2011, and believe he is poised to have a “special” season. If the Blue Devils plan on playing in December or January, he will have to play like the best quarterback in the conference.
Wide Receiver
Losses: Austin Kelly
Key returners: Conner Vernon (Jr.), Donovan Varner (Sr.), Brandon Braxton (So.), Tyree Watkins (R-So.), Corey Gattis (R-So.)
Newcomers: Jamison Crowder (Fr.), Blair Holliday (Fr.), Nick Hill (Fr.)
2010 Review: As you might expect, the performance of Duke’s wide receivers mirrored the ups and downs of QB Sean Renfree. Overall, Donovan Varner and Conner Vernon make up one of, if not the, top receiving tandem in college football. After his All-ACC campaign in 2009, Varner became just the 2nd Duke receiver to post back-to-back 60-reception seasons, finishing 2010 with 60 catches for 736 yards and 1 touchdown. After a breakout freshman season that earned him freshman All-American honors, Vernon topped his 2009 campaign with 73 catches for 946 yards and 4 touchdowns. The duo of Varner and Vernon partnered with senior Austin Kelly to form the top receiving trio in Duke history in 2010. Kelly battled injuries throughout his senior year, but still finished tied for the team lead with 4 touchdown catches. Outside of the top three, Duke’s younger receivers had an inconsistent 2010. After a good spring, freshman Brandon Braxton had an up and down season in his first year of college football, playing in 11 games and starting 5. Braxton finished 2010 with 14 catches and 1 touchdown; however, of those 14 receptions, 8 went for a Duke first down. Overall, fans should be excited with his potential and can pencil him in as the third starter alongside Varner and Vernon in 2011 after a strong offseason. Redshirt-freshmen Corey Gattis and Tyree Watkins saw the field sparingly in their first year of college eligibility.
2011 Outlook: Despite the loss of Kelly, Duke’s third-leading receiver in 2010, expectations are extremely high for the 2011 Duke receiving corps. Led by upperclassmen Varner and Vernon, this should be one of the top receiving units in the country. As good as Duke’s receivers were in 2010, they will need to be better in 2011, particularly in finding their way to the end zone and securing passes (not all of Dukes 2010 turnover troubles can be blamed on the QB). Expected improvements in the Duke running game should open up big play possibilities for Duke’s receivers, allowing them to eclipse their previous career highs. With Varner and Vernon likely to draw significant attention from opposing defenses, the opportunities will be there for Duke’s young receivers to step up and make plays. Braxton will get the first shot as the third starter at receiver, and is beginning to develop good chemistry with Renfree. Expect Braxton, Watkins, and Gattis to show dramatic improvement over 2010, and they should be pushed by true freshmen Blair Holliday and Nick Hill for playing time. The athletic ability of freshman Jamison Crowder will be hard to keep off the field, and he may find some time at slot receiver in certain offensive sets. Led by two determined, dynamic upperclassmen, this group has the potential to be the best in the ACC.
Tight End
Losses: Brett Huffman, Brandon King
Key returners: Danny Parker (R-Sr.), Cooper Helfet (Sr.), Jack Farrell (R-So.)
Newcomers: Braxton Deaver (R-Fr.), David Reeves (Fr.)
2010 Review: For the past several years, the Duke tight end position has been led by two warriors in Brett Huffman and Brandon King. Seemingly always injured, it took a lot to keep them off the field. With some struggles along the offensive line, Huffman and King were called upon to aid the Blue Devils’ blockers for much of their careers, and did so admirably. The Duke staff likes to move the tight end around in their offense, and the versatility of Huffman and King allowed them to thrive in multiple roles. While Huffman and King assumed roles as the unheralded warriors of the Duke offense, junior college transfer Cooper Helfet emerged as another potent weapon in Sean Renfree’s arsenal. After struggling with an ankle injury early in the season, Helfet finished the year with at least 4 catches in Duke’s final 5 games, leading the team in receiving in two contests and earning two ACC Player of the Week honors.
2011 Outlook: Huffman and King will not be easily replaced in the Duke offense, but with two seniors and a talented group of young players, the tight end should remain a strength for the 2011 Blue Devils. Helfet appears poised for a breakout senior campaign and will be joined by redshirt-senior Danny Parker, who redshirted in 2010 after seeing 232 snaps as a junior in 2009. Redshirt-freshman Braxton Deaver should be ready to contribute in his first season of college eligibility and true freshman David Reeves may be too good to keep off the field in his first year in Durham. The concern for this group will be replacing the blocking of Huffman and King, but their receiving numbers should improve over 2010.
Running back
Losses: none
Key returners: Jay Hollingworth (Sr.), Patrick Kurunuwe (R-Jr.), Desmond Scott (Jr.), Josh Snead (So.), Juwan Thompson (So.)
Newcomers: none
2010 Review: The 2010 Duke running game had nowhere to go but up, finishing last in the FBS in rushing in 2009. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Blue Devils took significant steps forward in 2010, increasing their rushing averages by 46.5 yards per game and adding 13 more touchdowns on the ground from 2009. Still, Duke finished last in the ACC in rushing and 104th in the country in 2011. Desmond Scott led the Blue Devils in rushing for the second straight season, finishing with 549 yards and a 4.4 yards per carry average. Scott established himself as Duke’s best all-around back and endeared himself to the Duke faithful with his game-winning touchdown dive against Virginia. Freshman Josh Snead showed flashes of his ability before injuries interrupted his season, but still finished with a team-best 4.9 yards per carry. Fellow freshman Juwan Thompson saw his offensive role increase as he adjusted to the college game, but was primarily limited to kick return duty. Junior Jay Hollingsworth came on strong late in the season, igniting the Duke offense with impressive 2nd half runs against Miami. Redshirt-sophomore Patrick Kurunuwe saw limited action on offense and special teams.
2011 Outlook: Duke returns all of their running backs in 2011, along with four of five starters along the offensive line. While blocking may be partly to blame for Duke’s struggles in the running game, Duke’s rushers must continue to improve their vision, burst, and strength. Improved confidence could go a long way to improving Duke’s running, as some of Duke’s best runs in 2010 appeared to come when the Blue Devil backs were “running with a purpose.” Scott has emerged as the face of Duke’s running game, and must become a consistent threat both on the ground and through the air for the Duke offense. While Scott is likely to again see the majority of carries, Duke’s depth at running back means that there will be significant competition for snaps in training camp and throughout the season, which should force this group to continue to improve. Snead and Thompson should take a big step forward in their second year of college football, and the overall depth at running back should allow Duke to do a better job wearing down opposing defenses. Thompson, in particular, appears poised to be a breakout candidate for the Duke offense. While no one should expect Duke to become a great running team overnight, the pieces are there for the Blue Devils to continue to improve on the ground, open things up in the passing game, and keep opposing offenses off the field.
Offensive Line
Losses: Bryan Morgan, Brandon Harper, Mitchell Lederman
Key returners: Kyle Hill (R-Sr.), Jon Needham (R-Sr.), Brian Moore (R-Jr.), Conor Irwin (R-Jr.), Dave Harding (R-So.), John Coleman (R-So.), Perry Simmons (R-So.)
Newcomers: Takoby Cofield (R-Fr.), Laken Tomlinson (R-Fr.), Marcus Aprahamian (Fr.), Lucas Patrick (Fr.), Cody Robinson (Fr.), Matt Skura (Fr.)
2010 Review: After watching Thaddeus Lewis play under seemingly constant pressure for four years, the Duke offensive line appeared to take a step forward in 2010. The group struggled again in run-blocking, but finished near the top of the ACC in sacks allowed per pass attempt. Morgan, though undersized, was the anchor up front, starting at center for 36 consecutive games. With little depth, the offensive line was asked to play through injury in 2010. For many weeks, Duke’s starters sat out practice but suited up on Saturday. That warrior mentality showed through on the field, as Duke improved their rushing by 46.5 yards per game, and the line successfully protected their first-year QB coming off knee surgery (25 sacks allowed, only 5.1% of dropbacks).
2011 Outlook: Of all the position groups on the Duke offense, the offensive line appears the most ready to take a big step forward in 2011. That being said, this group loses seniors Morgan and Harper and will need to continue to work hard and produce results on the field. Duke’s starting offensive line is expected to average close to 290 pounds in 2011, and that increased size and strength should help in both pass and run blocking. For the first time since Coach Cutcliffe’s arrival in Durham, the Blue Devils will be able to go two-deep across the offensive line without significant drop-off. In fact, there should be interesting position battles in training camp at right tackle and right guard, where redshirt-freshmen Takoby Cofield and Laken Tomlinson will push Perry Simmons and John Coleman for snaps. A talented group of freshmen offensive linemen should help solidify the position for the next several years and could see the field in the event of a significant injury. For the first time in several years, Duke has multiple NFL prospects among their offensive linemen, led by Brian Moore, Kyle Hill, Laken Tomlinson, Takoby Cofield, and Cody Robinson. Overall, the size, skill, and depth has improved, but this group will need to produce results on the field for the Duke offense to realize its full potential.
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Recruiting updates
There’s more? Sure, why not? To reward our loyal members, let’s take a quick look at where Duke stands with a few uncommitted 2012 prospects:
Running back: Jela Duncan is the guy here, and Duke would love to try and secure a commitment from him soon, though he seems content to wait out other offers. Earlier this week, we took a look at possible destinations for the Mallard Creek star, and the smart money is still on the Blue Devils here, whether it’s sooner or later. There’s no telling what will happen with North Carolina, but they remain in play for a few other backs, and with scholarship restrictions on the horizon, new offers will be few and far between. Scholarships are also scarce at South Carolina, another potential competitor for Duncan’s services. As for his current offers, Duncan hasn’t shown a lot of interest in Pittsburgh, Purdue, or Wake Forest up to this point. Some other prospects to keep an eye on include Dondre Brown, Jamie Gilmore, and Chris Mangus, but Duncan is the clear priority.
Best available: Outside of running back, the Duke coaching staff feels very good about the class of 2012 and will be in a position to take the best available players with their last 2 or 3 scholarships. In the past week, Duke has hosted OL Robert Conyers and ATH Ryan Janvion, and it looks like a good bet that the Blue Devils will find themselves among the finalists for both of those Florida prospects.
In addition, we’ve long reported Duke’s interest in Korren Kirven, but they face a huge uphill battle against his in-state ACC schools and several top SEC programs. Kirven is expected to narrow his list soon, and it would be nice for the Blue Devils to make the cut, but there are no guarantees. Elsewhere along the defensive line, Duke is still very much in it for Alabama standout Torey Agee, and will likely be a finalist along with Vanderbilt. BDN’s thinking is that Auburn or Georgia Tech would jump to the lead for Agee, if they were to offer. Duke is a longer shot for Greensboro’s D.J. Reader, who plans to play both football and baseball in college. With the academic requirements at Duke, it takes a very dedicated student-athlete to balance classes along with two sports.
Duke has been the leader for top in-state linebacker Keilin Rayner, but something has kept him from pulling the trigger for the Blue Devils so far. He’s been busy on the camp circuit this summer, and we’ll see where things stand with him soon. It appears that other schools have closed the gap, but Duke is still in the running for his services and a good start in September could help the Blue Devils’ chances. Florida athlete Marcus Allen is another intriguing prospect who looks like a good fit in Durham with his success in the classroom and on the field, but with a Florida State offer in hand, it may be tough to pull him out of the sunshine state. California LB Jeremiah Allison is another star student-athlete who seems to fit the Duke mold, and if the Blue Devils can maybe get him on campus for an official visit, they could become a serious contender in his recruitment.
As always, BDN will keep you posted with new developments. By securing a solid 2012 recruiting class early in the summer, the Duke coaching staff has been able to get a head start on evaluating the class of 2013, and we’ll slowly start to introduce members to some of the early targets as we head into the fall.
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Ok, seriously, I can’t write any more, and I bet your eyes hurt if you’ve made it this far. So next week, Duke defense preview time. Until then, WE ARE DUKE.
BDN's Duke Basketball Team and Recruiting Updates have set the standard among the sites and sure enough, this concept is now being copied. We'll take that as a compliment but when push comes to shove, it is all about the content and we'll stack ours against anybody. Here at BDN, our staff is in the trenches at AAU events. That means our members are getting live streams of information as it happens, making our site well ahead of the curve.
We can lay claim to the fact that we cover more major recruiting events in person than any other site and that has been a running thing for several years now. We don't send "stringers," with limited knowledge of the subject matter to do our work, nor do we sit back and depend on national network guys to do our job for us. Seriously, do you not want first hand observations from an accomplished staff that has seen the prospects play multiple times? No knocks here on the National guys in that many are our friends, but their sole focus is certainly not on Duke prospects nor is it a priority to cover them. There are no smoke and mirrors tactics at BDN folks, nope, we are straightforward and honest when it comes to our coverage and we take pride in that.
If you have yet to try BDN Premium, you don't know what you're missing of late and with some exciting changes on the horizon, it's the perfect time to check us out. Our staff is hard working, dedicated and hands on in everything we do. In our current update we lay out a clear picture of the staff's efforts. And before we get on with our update where lots is happening, take a look at how much content we've pumped out recently which includes: Two interviews with both Tony Parker and Matt Jones to go with individual interviews with Julius Randle, Jabari Parker, Alex Poythress, Perry Ellis, Jahill Okafor, Rasheed Sulaimon and much, much more. Just today, recruiting analyst Andrew Slater goes in depth with Mitch McGary and we have content laying in wait this week. And our interviews have meat to them in that we don't lure you in with a premium article featuring a couple of quotes via texting. Anyhow, let's move on to another informative and detailed (2521 word) update on the Duke Basketball recruiting scene where we paint a crystal clear picture for our members. Trust me in that you will absolutely love our update, so if you want to find out where the coaches will be going, who is really on the radar and such, we have the answers for you. And if you are not satisfied, we'll refund you within the first 24 hours of joining.
The picture is now crystal clear with concern to 2012 and beyond. Duke will stick with Tony Parker until his decision is made. Coach Krzyzewski sat front and center for many of Parker's games and the big man [private] knew it, cutting his eyes towards the man while playing. Parker has been a bit up and down with his comments of late but my belief is that Duke is in better shape than anyone else for Tony. His parents love Duke and if they had their way, this one would be over from what I've heard from legitimate sources. The Parkers sat directly behind the bench this weekend and they certainly saw the Blue Devils' keen interest. Duke has been faithful to Tony and his verbal could set other things in motion. Coach K loves his hands and footwork and wants him to anchor the paint in Durham. The Blue Devils have made Tony priority 1 on their 2012 wish list.
And if Parker is priority 1-A, then Mitch McGary is 1-B, or you can reverse the order if you'd like. Duke will go hard after McGary and they feel they have a great chance at the tenacious big. Sources are now saying McGary may pull the trigger before his high school season and if that is indeed the case, look for a whirlwind of activity in the coming months. It is safe to say McGary will be visiting Duke and the Blue Devils will be in home with him when the time comes, but that will not happen until the team returns from their venture to China and Dubai.
The Blue Devils were most impressed with Matt Jones and he gained an offer after his play this past weekend. Of course, as members, you all saw this one coming. Jones glowed beyond belief when talking of Duke and you will see those videos this week. We spoke to Jones the other night but kept it short. He told BDN that he was on cloud nine after Coach K called and that he could certainly see himself there. He was very excited that Duke moved in and it is fair to say that they went to the top of his list. Jones has shown steady improvement in his game and he can slash through the lanes and has an outstanding outside shot. He is a good on-ball defender as well and he sent a game to overtime with a defensive stop in front of Krzyzewski as time ran out. The only knock I witnessed is that he at times has trouble shaking free for his shot. He is a great character kid as well and BDN got his AAU coach's thoughts on that, which is another feature you can look forward to.
His teammate, the hulking Julius Randle, also has an offer and Duke feels they are in good shape there as well. Jeff Capel has certainly been a help in this one and the thought of a package deal with Jones is most appealing. But make no mistake about it, Duke loves Matthew Jones as a stand alone player. Randle was called the best player in the nation on the night he dominated the Memphis front court by someone close to the situation that watched him play. That was a bit cryptic but easy enough for you to figure out on your own. Randle was like a bull in a China shop and it is clear that he will not back down from anyone. I caught several of his games and was most impressed by his enormous upside. He is a true power player that may or may not fit should Duke get Tony Parker.
And then there is another 2013 product named Jabari Parker. What a humble superstar he is and you'll see this on coming videos as well. Parker likes Duke a lot ... a whole lot and the Duke coaches like him a lot, a whole helluva lot. They are in great early shape with Parker and this one might end in the spring of next year at the latest. Parker will make an unofficial visit to Durham in due time and we'll have more on that as it develops. While UNC and others are on him, Duke has been from the start and that will IMO pay dividends down the road. Parker is smooth and versatile and at times cannot be stopped. He is part of the spectacular trio joining Randle and Noel as the best of the best in 2013.
One thing many seemingly fail to see is that Duke has a great jump on 2013 for a reason. The Duke staff will be tied up with Team USA duties next summer limiting their time on the recruiting trail. That especially holds true for Krzyzewski and that is why he was so hands-on this past week with the class. The three aforementioned 2013 players are clearly at the top of the wish list but more names are in the works, specifically Nerlens Noel. This defensive demon we coined the "Sultan of Swat," is a most interesting talent and game changer. Then there is the "Nerlens Noel effect," which causes players to alter shots for Noel is an absolute terror when it comes to blocking shots. By the end of the EYBL he was in every prospect's head and it doesn't matter who he is guarding. In short, he inflicts pain on guys the same age, younger and/or older. When I joked with Noel about the fact he didn't send out invitations to his "Block Party," he loved it. Form that point on, Noel really opened up to me. Make no mistake, everybody is on Noel, so Duke will have their hands full as will every other team that vies for his services. I love me some Nerlens and so does Grant Hill, for he is making his fade rise on the cover of the 1991 Sports Illustrated stylish again;) A side note is that Grant Hill will go along on the China trip and he will be helping to teach the "Duke culture" to newcomers.
Some have attempted to hang me out to dry with a comment on Rodney Purvis which was misquoted, but that is something I am used to from another Duke site. This time they made sure my name was in the head of a post. I never intended certain things to go public but when users break the agreement upon signing up all I can do is boot them. Purvis flat out wants to come in and play right away but Duke has a bevy of wings on the roster and in the works. Purvis wanted to hang with Rasheed Sulaimon, Matt Jones and LJ Rose this weekend and he is seemingly upset at, well, everything that is said these days. The mere fact that Duke did not watch him is telling and I can tell you without revealing sources close to the situation that Purvis is no longer an option. Of course, we were the first to say that in a private forum and now all but one site is on the bandwagon. I think the offer to Jones may have made him see the light and/or the writing on the wall. Purvis is a good kid, but his emotion concerns me as does his behavior when he is not on the court. Would Duke take him if he called and wanted to come? Make no mistake, Purvis has talent and he is a good kid, so I am in no way beating him down, but he is no Austin Rivers or Kyrie Irving.
We have to watch how we mention prospects around here and even where we'll be going on the recruiting trail in that it tips off others. Just this week nobody was on Nerlens Noel until we were seen talking to him. Yes, people pay close attention to everything we do at events. It frustrates us at times but what can you do? All I can say is pay close attention to when information is printed and as a member sit back and know that you were aware of it beforehand. Noel is sure to pick up an offer soon.
Rasheed Sulaimon played very well at the EYBL finals as well although he saved his worst game for last and a lackluster offensive performance cost him the scoring title. Still, he finished second and he has improved immensely since a season ago; he's like a water bug running all over the place and locks down well on his defensive assignment. His handle is improving as well and his offense is top shelf. The Duke staff knew exactly what they were doing in getting this kid aboard early, a testament to Krzyzewski's eye. That too should excite one more with concern to Jones.
Wojo was in Wisconsin this week and Krzyzewski was as well before returning to Augusta. Chris Collins was at home this go round but he returns in the coming week. The addition of Jeff Capel has been a winner and this staff is, well, pretty darn good.
One kid that caught our eye during the EYBL opening session was Tyus Jones, a 2014 PG from Minnesota who plays for the older Howard Pulley team. Once we interviewed him, it was obvious to others he had caught the Blue Devils' eyes. Again, our every move is watched by others at events. We actually interviewed Jones while at Boo, so he didn't slip up on me at all. In fact, he stood out and I was amazed to learn he was 2014 for his play was smooth as silk and so far ahead of those in his class. We have a nice interview coming your way with Jones as well. I can tell you that he has great character, confidence and his recruitment will go on for a very long time. Still, both Andrew and myself take pride in giving you background on players Duke likes before it really gets out there. In short, we anticipate while at the many events, as Andrew did with Jahill Okafor. What you may not realize is how rare a good interview with Oakfor is, so pay attention to our offerings.
Duke is still keeping an eye on Alex Poythress and Perry Ellis as well. Neither of them have an offer and both play pretty much the same position. Duke would likely turn here if they got one of Mitch McGary and Tony Parker but the real need is bangers and not wings. Still, keep a close eye on these guys as the recruiting evaluation period opens back up.
Just in are the players Duke will watch in Orlando for the AAU National Showcase which runs from the 23rd to the 27th. Mitch McGary will start there and once it is over go to Kansas City. Teammates Julius Randle and Matt Jones will be there as well along with Nerlens Noel and Theo Pinson. Rasheed Sulaimon will play in the AAU Nationals in Orlando which takes place after the loaded Showcase. And Tony Parker and Alex Poythress will play in both events. I am trying to swing this event but right now it isn't looking good.
I am trying to rework my schedule to go to Orlando but a cash crunch may prevent that from happening. However, Andrew is set to go to Las Vegas and you know his coverage will be top shelf. In closing our latest update I would like to thank all of you for supporting us through membership. We would like to give back, so here is an opportunity for you. If you refer new members to BDN Premium, we'll give you 15% of their membership provided you e-mail or PM us before they join. If you have a friend join for a year, that means you get 15$ cash sent to your paypal account. If it is for six months, you get 9$. There is no referral granted for a one or three month membership. This is a limited time offer. Help us grow our community!
Thanks again for choosing Blue Devil Nation Premium and the future is looking bright around here, so stay tuned for more on that. [/private]
Make no mistake that Duke has made it clear that Georgia Stars big man Tony Parker is a top priority. Coach Krzyzewski and Jeff Capel watched 90% of his games this week at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam. Parker came up big in that his teammate Alex Poythress sat out one game and he shouldered the load. He led the Stars to the semi finals before they bowed out. BDN caught up to Tony for this video [private] chat -
More to come - [/private]
Every college basketball coach and staff in America is currently checking out the nations top prospects at various shoe camps. BDN's Andrew Slater was on the scene at the Adidas Invitational yesterday where he followed the Duke prospects you want to hear of. Today, he'll head to the LeBron James Skills Academy where his coverage continues.
During the first day of camp, Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Steve Wojciechowski and Jeff Capel took in the action. Krzyzewski watched Perry Ellis and Shabazz Muhammad play twice and he also checked out Nate Britt and some other names.
The day started when the trio of coaches were front row, center for the Kansas Pray and Play Players/Pump and Run vs New England Elite match up where their focus was on Perry Ellis but his team lost. They then took in Brannen Greenes' Atlanta 16 team that absolutely crushed Indiana Elite 63-41 while he dropped 20 points. When asked if he noticed the three Duke coaches watching him, he acknowledged it.
The staff also checked out the New England Playazz who of course have Kaleb Tarczewski. A bevy of coaches were in attendance for this game as well, but it was NEP point guard Makai Mason ('14) who said he had received interest from Duke that caught their eye as well.
The entire Duke staff sat with Tommy Amaker (Harvard) and Johnny Dawkins (Stanford) for the Dream Vision vs. Indiana Elite game. There focus was Shabazz Muhammad and he tossed in 39 points in a dominating performance. Other coaches watching were UNC coached McGrath and head man Roy Williams as well as Howland, Romar, Self, Calipari, Carmody, Gottfried, Stallings, Crean, Haith, Sendek, Thompson and Floyd. The staff caught Muhammads' night game too, where he finished with 18 as his team squandered a chance at a second victory in the last minute of play.
The staff also watched D.C. Assault and Nate Britt with Curtis Malone, Nolan's stepdad, seated right behind the DCA bench. After being saddled by early foul trouble, Britt dropped in a layup to cut it to 68-67 EG --37 seconds remaining, the game went to overtime where DCA pulled out the win on a three point shot at the buzzer. Britt finished with 18.
Meanwhile, on another court, Perry Ellis tossed in 32 points in a stellar performance and Coach K had switched over to see him from Britts' game and had to be pleased with what he saw.
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