BDN Premium caught up with future Blue Devil Josh Hairston who discussed his season to date with Montrose Christian, his improvement and some of the hot names in recruiting of late like Terrence Ross . He touches on playing with Kyrie Irving and Andre Dawkins as well in an in depth audio interview. This [private] interview was conducted after I covered the Tournament of Champions event in a bit of a cramped situation, thus the tint like sound on my end. Regardless, I think you'll agree that Josh is comfortable in answering questions in that BDN has covered him from when Duke first started recruiting him. Let me know how you like actually hearing Josh for this is a first for us passing it own as it happened. Happy New Year! [/private]
BDN asked many of the questions when Nolan Smith addressed the media yesterday. He opened up about the coming season, his off season work and picking a Jay Z song to hit the court with during tonight's Countdown to Craziness. You can bet that BDN will be on the scene working hard to bring you unmatched coverage of all things Duke. In fact, some of the camera crews joked with me encouraging me to ask questions, but seeing how another site benefited from our questions without doing any of the work [nothing new], we'll make sure that we work other angles to bring you different content than the norm and let them do their own thing. Don't get me wrong, we understand that all is fair game at media events, but it's the principle which disturbs not only myself but other sites. Please keep in mind that the Blue Devil Nation has extended interviews. While some interviews [like this one] are similar to those found on video, a lot of ours we're extended or one on one's in an effort to get something different. I apologize for the mini rant, but I respect the Duke web sites that get out there and do the work and not ride the coattails of others. Fortunately for print media, this is not as big of a problem for being there is a part of the job.
Riding coattails is a metaphor that refers to the way in which lower level or uninspiring celebrities can often reach stardom through their ties to another, more popular and successful celebrity or entity. This can often be used as a generic phrase for anyone that hangs onto another person or entity as they forge ahead, without effort from the hanger-on.
Just hit play for the best audio sound available -
Michael Gilchrist - c/r BDN Photo Join BDN Premium for the best recruiting coverage of any Duke site. We will guarantee that you'll like it or we'll give you a full refund within (24 hours) of signing up if you are not satisfied. That means you can read all of our articles and then decide for yourself in the aforementioned time frame.
Michael Gilchrist is a ridiculously talented fifteen year old prospect who could already compete at the college level. Every AAU event I go to, he seems to be hitting buzzer beating half court shots or dominating guys two years older and ranked at the top of their class. The hype surrounding this young fellow is still gaining steam and there is no doubt that he is the best player in his class and that his future looks blindingly bright. BDN caught up with Gilchrist and learned more about how his camp will be handling the process in the future.
I know it's tough after a loss like that for you guys don't lose many?
It's fine.
What did coach tell you about the next time, just bring it?
Yeah, umh, just give it your all. That's it, just give it your all. (BDN covers the AAU in Las Vegas starting tomorrow, join the best Duke recruiting subscription now and you won't miss a beat.) [private]
(Other site) What schools are you hearing from now?
What's that?
(Other site) What schools are you hearing from?
(That's when his mom stepped in saying, "We're not going to talk about schools right now. It's very early in the process for him." She seemed upset at the sudden abruptness of the question of schools from a member of another site. Hey, tone and easing in is important with these kids. The question about schools was asked in a not so friendly authoritative business like manner)
So, it is going to go down until the end?
(Mom again. " We have no idea, it's a family decision and we're just going to keep it close to our family. There is too much in the media about the schools and his selection. We are going to let him take his time and it's his life and his decision. That's what me and Dad have decided so that's the way it is going to be."
As a family are you feeling the pressure from all of the hype?
(Mom - "We don't feel any pressure, because me and Dad are driving this bus. Michael is fifteen he is having a good time, that's all." She then took a step back as the Nike reps eyes were wide from surprise at how she bristled.) I then felt as if I would try to close out the interview in some way other than walking off.)
Michael, what do you feel like you can improve on in your game?
I can improve on everything. Just improve on everything.
So, at this point you just want to concentrate on your basketball and not so much the recruiting process?
Yes, yes.
Okay.
Do you know where you guys are going from here?
I am going to Florida, the (AAU) nationals.
There are a lot of elite camps going on, have you been invited to any of those?
Just the skill academiess.
Thanks for your time and good luck the rest of the tournament.
In closing, I got the impression that Gilchrist is a young kid who is coming to grips with the hye surrounding him. With the nations top coaches and the likes of World Wide Wes watching your every move, it has to be daunting. Gilchrist seemed shy and uncertain with his answers, but his mom did allude to the fact he is just fifteen years old and that is something we all need to remember.
Michael is destined to be a special player. In fact, Coach K feels he is the best player in all of high school basketball at this early age. Duke knows that it will be a battle royall for his service, but they made sure that their presence was at the forefront in his games. The Blue Devils do have Gilchrist on their radar and contacts have been made. [/private]
Super quick point guard prospect Joe Jackson made his presence felt at the NBAPA Top 100 Camp this past weekend. Jackson stands just 6-0 and weighs in at 180, but his presence is big on the court as he slashes through opposing defenses. BDN Premium has a one on one interview with the budding Memphis native who mentions that Duke [private] has contacted him.
If you read our message board you already know that Josh Hairston and Tyler Thornton have made there way down to Duke after the NBAPA Top 100 Camp. What you may not know is that [private] they'll be working out a lot with Nolan Smith who just got back from D.C. where he worked out with Michael Beasley.
The visitors will also be there when Harrison Barnes visits Durham on Tuesday of this week. Barnes left for Chapel Hill with his mom and sister in tow where he'll get to know Roy Williams and the players. He will participate in the camp while there and you can bet they'll do what they can to thwart his visit to Durham. If you are counting, this would make his third trip to Duke but do not look for a verbal for this one will last a good while longer.
Duke will also have a few ex players left over from the camp. In fact, they are working with current players early and often. Two of those players are Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly. Both incoming freshman are working hard in the weight room to get stronger and prepare for the rigors of competing at the highest level.
Back to Barnes for a moment, as you have seen on the message board, he was hanging out with Andre Dawkins, Josh Hairston and Tyler Thornton. After Barnes final play off game, he sat and talked with Dawkins for a good while and Thornton came over as well. Kendall Marshall's father saw me taking a picture (hate that happened) and beamed in on them. Marshall, who goes by mrtiger on the Scout boards, loves to meddle, especially when it involves Duke or UNC players. If you think he wouldn't help Carolina's cause you're crazy and I implore you to not trust what he says. While he'll get some things right, he will also meddle about with rumors or staunch opinions. He runs about picking at prospects and others while at AAU events and worse, he sits in the stands and rails on other prospects if they make bad plays while playing with his son. He berated one well known recruiting guru for not ranking his son high enough, constantly dropping every curse word in the book regardless of who was around and yes, in front of his own younger children. He epitomizes the worst case scenario in a little league father and I am surprised Scout allows him to hang around. Kendall is a fine young man though and he is impressive both on and off the court in every way. I just hate to see little league fathers acting in a way that I feel in inappropriate.
Enough on him, back to recruiting talk. Ray McCallum seems to be inclined to wait on his decision for a bit and I feel he's hoping Duke offers. That will be dependent on how Duke feels about Kyrie Irving who had a sluggish start to the tournament. Irving has not played in a ton of AAU tournaments, haven stayed on the East coast most of last year. He was stymied by the talent and not being the man or getting the ball where he wanted it. In fact, as the interviews roll your way, you'll hear several prospects say the same thing. Irving emphatically told me that there was no truth to him being an Indiana lean and discussed the rumors and false information that hit the boards where Andrew and myself let you know the real deal after the Rumble in the Bronx. I expect Irving to visit Duke by the end of summer and they should know of his interest level at that time. Unfortunately, my batteries gave way during the interview and much of the good stuff was missed, but I will reconstruct what I can.
Fab Mello answered two questions before turning his back to the media and saying he couldn't speak our language much to his AAU coaches chagrin. He wasn't doing that bad, but seems to have trouble handling pressure. This will not bode well for him with concerns to landing in the kind of position he wants to in college.
McCallum is a pure point guard and plays within his capabilities, but he got dusted by Joe Jackson in a head to head match up. However, McCallum bounced back after that game and played his best ball of the tournament. Jackson? He's a blur with the ball and can light it up on offense. He is of course the teammate of Tarik Black on his AAU team, the Jackson Tigers. Brick Oettinger said he'd move up significantly in his rankings and I must admit that I came away impressed. We have an interview coming with him as well where he mentions that Duke's Nate James has been in touch, but Kentucky and Memphis are the leaders. We talked with Black as well and yes, I caught another sites writer on film looking at my notes on press row while I was away. I will give you one guess where they were from;)
Dominique Ferguson said that Duke just came out of nowhere, but he is seriously entertaining the notion as are many kids. Nate James has really helped broaden the Duke name on the trail and he will likely continue under the tutelage of Chris Collins and Wojo.
One more thing ... we told you that Josh Hairston would be transferring to Montrosse Christian Academy, but that has not be officially announced yet, so we'd appreciate you keeping that here for nobody from Scout or Rivals has a clue about this.
We'll continue to bring you coverage from the NBAPA Top 100 camp all this week and you will surely enjoy actually hearing the players for yourselves. I will have the audio updates in a more timely fashion next time around, so thanks for the patience while we worked through that. [/private]
Marshall Plumlee will be the tallest of the bunch when he enters college - BDN Photo
Marshall Plumlee took to the floor in Cameron Indoor Stadium during last weeks TOC in front of his parents and brothers Mason and Miles. His two brothers are already at Duke and Marshall will prepare for the upcoming season with Christ School by developing his skills on the AAU trail. BDN talked with Marshall after his teams victory which you can hear in the following audio [private] blog. Coming in July, Blue Devil Nation 2.0.
Super quick point guard prospect Joe Jackson made his presence felt at the NBAPA Top 100 Camp this past weekend. Jackson stands just 6-0 and weighs in at 180, but his presence is big on the court as he slashes through opposing defenses. BDN Premium has a one on one interview with the budding Memphis native who mentions that Duke [private] has contacted him.
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