A dozen thoughts on Duke’s 12 scholarship players (2024)

All the moves are being made. Decisions declared, transfers taking their talents elsewhere, final recruiting rodeos. As the wise Michael Scott said succinctly: It’s all happening.

Take Duke, for example. About a month ago, the Blue Devils were poised to make a run at both ACC and NCAA championships; four short weeks later, Mike Krzyzewski has lost four of his top six scorers and seven rotational players. Tre Jones, Vernon Carey and Cassius Stanley are all off to the NBA; Alex O’Connell is Creighton-bound; and Jack White, Javin DeLaurier and Justin Robinson will graduate. So much for familiar faces.

Of course, what would be a crushing exodus for most programs is just retooling in Durham. The Blue Devils welcome the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class, per the 247Sports.com Composite, led by five-star wing Jalen Johnson. Comparisons to Paul George are a good thing, yes? Between Coach K’s newest crop of freshmen and the holdovers, Duke should once again be among the nation’s best teams.

Now, the Blue Devils do have one more available scholarship for next season, but the staff in recent years has sometimes kept a spot open. But let’s run through who’s coming back, who’s coming in, and what’s reasonable to expect of each guy:

Matthew Hurt

2019-20: Freshman — 9.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg

A year ago, Hurt’s inclusion on this list would probably be something of a mild shock. A five-star forward, especially a stretch-four whose game is so tailored for today’s NBA, spending multiple seasons in Durham? It wouldn’t quite make sense, until you go back and look at his season.

While Hurt’s shooting prowess translated to college — he made 39.3 percent of his 3s and 74.1 percent of his free throws — the rest of his game was more up and down. He struggled at times with the speed and physicality of the ACC, and his minutes fluctuated as a result.

But here’s the thing: Coming back for a second season can work to Hurt’s advantage.

As the team’s leading returning scorer and one of its best talents, Hurt will be asked to carry much more of a load as a sophom*ore. And he’s capable of doing so, as long as he invests in certain areas of his development. One of those would be strength; Hurt could stand to add around 10 to 15 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-9 frame so he’s better-equipped to bang in the post. Getting faster, especially on the defensive end, would pay dividends too. Of course, doing those things simultaneously is difficult, but the point stands: Working on his body is the best thing Hurt can do for himself this summer.

If he does, it’s not hard to envision a scenario where Hurt is among Duke’s leading scorers. His perimeter scoring will, of course, remain valuable, but with fewer bigs on next year’s roster, he’ll also be asked to contribute more inside. That’s not to say the man is going to turn into Carey in a matter of months. But I like the mismatches Hurt poses as an inside-outside threat, and I’ll bet NBA teams do too come this time next year.

Wendell Moore Jr.

2019-20: Freshman — 7.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.9 apg

I’ll just come straight out and say it: I think there’s a slim chance Moore ends up as Duke’s most valuable player next season.

Note I said “most valuable” and not “best,” though. The latter is probably reserved for Johnson (more on him later), but Moore’s fingerprints figure to be all over what the Blue Devils do. And how could they not be? Even though a broken hand cost him six games this spring, Moore emerged as one of Duke’s better defenders and more versatile pieces. At 6-foot-6 and 213 pounds, he’s capable of guarding positions one to four. It wouldn’t be a surprise for him to be in the mix for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He also did a little bit of everything offensively, whether it was slashing, passing or handling the ball as a sort of point-forward. The Blue Devils will be stacked on the perimeter, but Moore is especially exciting.

So why do I say he could end up the team’s most valuable player? Think of Tre Jones’ impact this season as a sophom*ore, when he was asked to lead on both ends of the court and also in the locker room. Well, Moore fits that same bill. There will be other leaders on the team, including Jordan Goldwire, and there will be other major contributors, but Moore is squarely in the middle of that Venn diagram. He needs to improve his 3-point shot, and rather substantially — he only made 21.1 percent from deep as a freshman — to reach his ceiling, and his handle needs tightening. But even with those parts of his game still developing, Moore has an enormous opportunity.

Joey Baker

2019-20: Sophom*ore — 5 ppg

What a two seasons it has been for Joey Baker. The Fayetteville, N.C., native was originally supposed to redshirt as a freshman… until Zion Williamson’s shoe exploded and took Duke’s depth with it. Then this season, in a five-game span from late November to late December, he started his first game and averaged 10.6 points. And as quick as his rise began, by February, Baker had all but fallen out of the rotation.

So, what gives?

Baker’s playing time was directly tied to his shooting. Make shots, stay on the court; miss them, stay on the bench. That simple. And although things won’t be quite so clear-cut for him as a junior, the same overarching idea will be. Baker’s most bankable skill is his jump-shooting. He’s not a terrifically gifted defender, save for taking the occasional charge, and he won’t be asked to be a primary ballhandler. So it’s all about the shots.

Luckily for Baker, his stroke is gorgeous. Before games this season, I’d often watch him get shots up just to watch his mechanics. He won’t start with any regularity this year, but if he can improve from deep — he has hit 39.4 percent of his 3s, albeit on limited attempts — he’ll be the rotational sharpshooter any team would love.

Jordan Goldwire

2019-20: Junior — 4.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.3 apg

Strictly in basketball terms, Goldwire stands to be the greatest beneficiary of any coronavirus-related hiccups in the offseason calendar. Normally, the freshmen would enroll in classes over the summer and begin working with the coaching staff. That, of course, does not appear likely. In which case, boy, would it be nice to have a three-year point guard to fall back on.

That’s Goldwire. After two seasons of modest production, the artist formerly known as J-Gold finally seemed to lean into his 3-and-D role — and it paid massive dividends. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound guard started 15 games this season alongside Jones, forming one of the best defensive backcourts in the country. His offense came along too, as Goldwire hit 35.4 percent of his 3s and dished out 2.3 assists per game.

While Jeremy Roach and D.J. Steward have more upside than Goldwire, there’s a very real chance that Goldwire’s role grows with an abbreviated summer period. That’s the time Roach and Steward would normally be learning Coach K’s system, developing chemistry with teammates, yada yada. If not, there’s a real chance Goldwire starts to begin the season — and if he plays as well as he did at times this year, knocking down open 3s and forcing steals, he might not relinquish that spot easily. On a team with a glut of wings, having someone to funnel them the ball is pretty important.

Mike Buckmire

2019-20: Junior — 2 mpg

Bucky is probably as known as much for his friendship with Williamson as he is anything else, and that doesn’t figure to change during his senior season.

Patrick Tapé

2019-20: Senior — DNP

If you somehow missed the saga of Tapé committing, de-committing, and then re-committing to the Blue Devils, we’ve got you covered. Seriously, it’s worth hearing the whole story. But the thing that most matters here is, what exactly is Duke getting with Krzyzewski’s first grad transfer?

Answer: some much-needed interior depth after the departure of Carey, DeLaurier, White and Robinson. That’s Duke’s entire post lineup, all gone in one fell swoop. And although Tapé missed his senior season at Columbia — he would have missed about half the year with a toe injury had he not opted to grad-transfer — his junior year film fits exactly what Duke needs. He’s not as sophisticated or as smooth as Carey around the basket, but the 6-foot-10, 220-pounder did average 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in his third season.

Tapé is at the same disadvantage as Duke’s freshman class, though, although his learning curve is different having already played three seasons of Division I basketball. If he can offer Duke some rim protection, a little rebounding and the occasional post bucket, he’ll be what the Blue Devils expected. Regardless, given how thin Duke is inside, he seems like a candidate for at least 10 to 15 minutes per game.

Jalen Johnson

2019-20: Senior, Nicolet in Glendale, Wis.

Admittedly, Johnson had a weird senior season. The No. 11 prospect in The Athletic 40 enrolled at IMG Academy in the fall, only to leave midway through the season for undisclosed reasons. (It was apparently for family reasons.) He re-enrolled at Nicolet and continued dominating like nothing ever happened.

Johnson is the centerpiece of the recruiting class and probably the next one-and-done star in Durham. The Paul George comparisons aren’t for nothing; the guy can shoot, slash, pass, rebound — basically everything you would ask for from a modern-day wing. It helps that he’s 6-foot-8 with go-go gadget arms. He’ll start from Day 1 as the best of the Blue Devils’ many wings.

Jeremy Roach

2019-20: Senior, Paul VI Catholic in Fairfax, Va.

Jones leaves large shoes to fill, and while the onus won’t be entirely on Roach to direct the offense, he’ll certainly play a major part. At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Roach is a solid, sturdy guard who does a lot of things well. The question: Is he exceptional at anything?

Yes or no, expect Roach to compete to start with Goldwire whenever he does arrive on campus. In many ways, Roach shares similar traits to Jones. He’s a willing, tenacious defender with a developing 3-point shot. Offensively, he’s capable of finding his teammates — an essential attribute given the perimeter-oriented makeup of this roster — and finishing through traffic on his own. Watch his highlight reels, and you’ll see those crafty layups over and over. This is a well-rounded prospect with room to grow into a larger role as the year progresses.

D.J. Steward

2019-20: Senior, Whitney Young in Chicago

All Steward does is make shots. Seriously. Despite his smaller size at 6-foot-3 and 165 pounds, Steward is capable of making it rain from just about anywhere. His physical limitations will probably hinder him from becoming an elite defender, but with Roach and Goldwire sharing the backcourt, he’ll have some cover there. He can handle the ball, including in transition, and while passing isn’t his calling card, he’s more than competent there too.

Depending on the lineups Coach K rolls with, Steward could end up a starter. Whether it’s Roach or Goldwire next to him, Steward balances the offense-versus-defense scale in the backcourt and provides the Blue Devils with a catch-and-shoot threat. (For what it’s worth, Moore and Johnson can operate similarly on the perimeter, although both are more well-rounded.)

Another enticing option that Krzyzewski wasn’t afraid to utilize this season is running with a three-guard lineup. Steward has the positional flexibility to make that happen — and obviously, it’s fun to imagine.

Mark Williams

2019-20: Senior, IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Of all the freshmen, is it unfair to say Williams has the toughest job? Maybe not, but consider he is the Blue Devils’ main interior recruit in this class and will be replacing a likely first-rounder in Carey. Oh, and he may not have a summer to get fully acclimated? Not exactly an easy welcome.

Still, at 7-foot and 225 pounds, Williams is a mountain of a man, and some things are going to come naturally. He knows how to use his terrific size on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he takes advantage of second-chance opportunities and is comfortable playing with his back to the basket; defensively, he’s as much a shot-blocker as he is someone whose mere presence will affect shots.

Williams’ development is one of the more interesting storylines to me about this team. If he comes on strong right away, do you start him and send one of Hurt/Moore to the bench? How do his minutes shape out with Tapé? How Krzyzewski handles the post next season is arguably my biggest question.

Jaemyn Brakefield

2019-20: Senior, Huntington (W. Va.) Prep

With the caveat that I’ve not yet seen Brakefield in person, I think there’s a chance we look back in a few years and ask, “‘How did this guy not have more buzz coming out of high school?’ At 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds, Brakefield has room to grow into his frame without sacrificing his mobility. There are questions about his motor, but those existed with Carey too.

It’ll be interesting to see where Brakefield fits into the rotation, because he works both as a wing and as more of an inside-out guy. He’s a solid outside shooter, but he has a knack for being at the right place at the right time on the interior too. Again, he’s not going to play ahead of Moore/Johnson, but he’s a versatile piece with upside.

Henry Coleman

2019-20: Senior, Trinity Episcopal School in Richmond, Va.

Patient and smart around the basket, Coleman also fits into Duke’s rebuilt post … somehow. At 6-foot-8, he doesn’t quite have the length that Williams does, but he knows how to use his 240-pound frame to bully his way to rebounds. He’s a sound athlete who moves well for his weight, but it’ll take time for him to develop into someone comfortable playing on the wing. Again, there’s a reason the depth chart inside is such a talking point — there are a lot of bodies to consider, including Coleman.

(Photo of Matthew Hurt: Jeremy Brevard / USA Today Sports)