WRAL Sports Fan

Duke

Assessing Duke's basketball recruiting

By Dane Huffman

Jul 8, 2009

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is expected to coach the U.S. Olympic team again, up to the 2012 Olympics in London.

WRAL checked in with John Watson, who covers Duke recruiting closely for his website, The Devils’ Den, on the Scout.com network. Here is how Watson assesses Duke’s basketball recruiting so far.

Q: Overall, how do you think Krzyzewski’s Olympic commitments have impacted his recruiting?

A: Overall I think it helps get him and the program a lot more exposure. As far as tangible impact, I am not sure it does a whole lot either way. Certainly the resume he's built at Duke and the standards he's set have allowed the program to be considered as one of the elite programs in the country -- that the coach is coaching the Olympics and developing more NBA contacts as well as international ones...well, that's just a bonus.

Luckily the coaching staff has been able to manage things as far as time spent with the training camp and the summer recruiting circuit. Many see last year's recruiting class (and subsequently this year's lack of guards) as a byproduct from the Team USA commitment.

But, more accurately it was a flawed recruiting strategy (i.e. a narrow net targeting a finite number of players) that resulted in the "misses.”

Q: How do you assess Duke’s commitments from the rising high school seniors so far? Duke has commitments from 6-foot-4 shooting guard Andre Dawkins (a five-star recruit by Scout.com), 6-8 power forward Josh Hairston (four stars) and 6-2 point guard Tyler Thornton (four stars).

A: They are a great start to what could be a tremendous recruiting haul in 2010. Dawkins is an elite athlete who can really shoot out to 25 feet. Thornton is the consummate floor general who gets his teammates involved. Hairston is versatile power forward. All will be able to help the program in their own way. Right now it's a "solid" start.

Q: How do you describe Harrison Barnes and what are Duke's chances?

A: Harrison Barnes is one of, if not the best, player in the class. He's 6-8 and can comfortably play on the wing as a true shooting guard or he can go inside against smaller guys and play a combo forward role. Respected analysts have used comparisons to Luol Deng and Grant Hill. Not bad company.

As far as Duke's chances go. The kid maintains he has no leader. And until he says otherwise you have to take him at his word. That being said, most recruiting analysts have pegged Duke as a force to be reckoned with here. Barnes has said he wants to to take some fall official visits and will hope to have a decision this fall.

Q: Who else could they get?

A: Kyrie Irving is a very quick point guard out of New Jersey who can get to the rim at will. Duke is very high on him. In general the Blue Devils want another point guard in the class. The nation's top point guard, Brandon Knight is being recruited as are fellow top five point guards Ray McCallum and Joe Jackson.

Aside from Barnes and another point guard the last spot (aside from Seth Curry) may go to a best available player. That could be Oak Hill's Roscoe Smith (6-7 small forward) or Indiana product Dominique Fergusson (6-9 forward). Both are five-star prospects and top 20 players.

Q: What do you think of the Class of 2011 for Duke?

A: With so many additions planned for in 2011, it's hard to determine what they will need in 2011 - much less who. Right now they are watching a number of players and learning about them.