Scout's Point Of View
Duke class/recruiting 2019
Let's talk 2019 and some of the Duke Recruits & the only commit so far. There are quite a few on the radar.
First off, the Duke commit, Joey Baker
"I think Joey fits the bold of a Duke combo forward, but not the likes of Thomas (Lance), Jefferson (Amile) or the current player, Javin. Offensively, he's got some Kyle Singler and Ryan Kelly in his game. He can shoot the ball. Rolling off hedges, popping out, off curls, in transition and spot ups. He can knock them down. But he can score other ways too. He's deceptively athletic and has a good basketball IQ. He's still filling out his frame and he's about 6-8 205 and I can see him getting bigger with his frame. He's a good fit at Duke. I like his game and he has a future in the league down the road."
I'll throw some other names at you.
Joe Girard
"He's a kid that I have seen (living in the tri-state area) and he can flat out shoot. He's not that talk (maybe 6-2), and his shot sometimes doesn't come out high and is flat, but for the most part, every time the ball leaves his hand, you think it's going in. He's not just a shooter; he can score. I'd just like to see what he develops into. A PG, a 2 Guard or a Combo Guard. He needs to work on point guard skills but he's not that far off. I see him as that scorer who doesn't have a label. He's a guard who on any night can go off for 20 plus."
Bryan Antoine & Scottie Lewis.
"Both are players I've been able to see multiple times. Bryan (no slight to Scottie) might be my favorite player out of Jersey since Kyrie (and Jason Williams too). Bryan is another guard that can score in many ways and he's so good at finding ways to attack the defense. Good handle, good movement off the ball and a play maker with the ball in his hands. He a good athlete too. Special kid that is the one-and-done rule still applies, he will be a player that leaves after a year."
"Scottie is a tad different type of player. He's longer, and plays with an explosiveness about him. He's a guy that get right up on you defensively and has a very high motor. He's a scorer too and finds his ways. He has a determination about him and you can see him impact a game. He's more of a wing type, 2-3 guy whereas Bryan is a combo guard, a 1 or 2. "
"These two are very close fiends and I've heard there are coaches pitching them as a package deal. Although that is a good angle to come from the only true contenders to package them up is Duke, Kentucky and Villanova. There is a chance they go to the same college but I suspect they will go to separate schools. Great kids. They both need to get physically stronger. Bryan needs to focus on mixing it up a bit more to grab boards and Scottie could tighten up his handle. Who ever gets them will be lucky. Both are Pros."
Wendell Moore
"I haven't seen a lot of him, but what I have seen, I like his game. He's a slasher type that is strong, I like how he uses his body. He's a 2-3, and because he's so physically ready, he could hit the college seen running and make an immediate contribution. I've talked to a few people and he's on the radar (one-and-done) and has people following him. He and Scottie's (Lewis) games overlap some and I can't see him attending a school that has a player with his similar skills sets already there in his class. He's got an alpha personality."
Cole Anthony
"He might be the best combination of pure point skills with a scorers mentality that has been in any class the last few years. He's very good with the ball in his hands and can dribble, pass, play make for others and himself. But he's a scorer and could be used with another ball handler where Cole can work getting his shot too. He's getting bigger too, I've heard a good 6-3. With his athletic heritage and his dad's guidance, he will be in the League sooner than later. Don't get me wrong, he's not a finished product yet, and he has areas such as defending, rebounding and decision making that all young PGs need to focus on, but he's very good. A definite Pro."
Matthew Hurt
"He's a more advanced player, but can do all of the same things as Baker (Joey) but he's more fluid at this point. He's not a true big but that big that can play inside and out of in Duke terminology, a stretch 4. He can do work in the paint. He's got a great attitude and work ethic. He will make a name for himself as a Fr in college. He's got a future in the NBA. "
How about some bigs. Starting with Vernon Carey.
"He's a versatile big guy that's got power, strength, touch and skill to go along with size. He hasn't defined who he is as a big guy completely though. He spends a lot of time outside the paint roaming which is good at times when you have his skills away from the basket, but with his ability to over power other players, playing inside then out would suit him better. I can see Vernon being used like Duke used Carter; not Bagley. Listen the kid is a Pro after his Fr year and he's a Pro now if he could come out. Stud as far as size and skill."
Isaiah Stewart
"Extremely strong and physical player. A rebounding guy that does all the dirty work. His game is not like Vernon (Carey). He's makes room in the paint by using his body which is already college ready (heck he's physically Pro ready). He needs to continue to work on his post scoring by refining his footwork, making his post moves quicker and cleaner and extending his range a bit, but make no mistakes about it, he's a post guy. Will need a few years of college but when he puts it all together he will have a very good college career. Will watch his development to see how his strengths translates to the new Pro game."
Armando Bacot
"I think he's the most intriguing as far as a kid that can do a little bit of everything well and might not get the recognition he should. He's really improved over the last year and he's older than most in the 2019 class. He's a player that could be one that if he has that productive Fr year, could position himself to be one-and-done. His game translates to the Pro game. He should look for a college program that will allow him to roam the inside of the arc because he can do work there. Still needs to get stronger and work on his short jumper."
Can I put you on the spot and ask you who you could see going to Duke.
"Sure, this isn't my calling, but I could give my two cents."
Duke type players:
"Girard, he's that scorer/shooter, Duke loves. Antoine, he's a true guard with combo skills that does well at Duke. Stewart would fall in the next tier and he would do well for Duke."
"The kids I see as 50/50 to Duke would be Moore, he's that slasher, driver that Coach K has experience with. Bacot, he's a versatile big that Duke has recently started to get. But I see those two as a UNC/Duke battle to land. I'll put Cole as 50/50 too."
"The guys I see with somewhat of a chance for Duke to possibly get are Vernon but Miami and Mich State are very involved, Scottie Lewis, who is high on Kentucky and Villanova and Matthew Hurt, who Kansas has made a priority."
Duke class/recruiting 2019
Let's talk 2019 and some of the Duke Recruits & the only commit so far. There are quite a few on the radar.
First off, the Duke commit, Joey Baker
"I think Joey fits the bold of a Duke combo forward, but not the likes of Thomas (Lance), Jefferson (Amile) or the current player, Javin. Offensively, he's got some Kyle Singler and Ryan Kelly in his game. He can shoot the ball. Rolling off hedges, popping out, off curls, in transition and spot ups. He can knock them down. But he can score other ways too. He's deceptively athletic and has a good basketball IQ. He's still filling out his frame and he's about 6-8 205 and I can see him getting bigger with his frame. He's a good fit at Duke. I like his game and he has a future in the league down the road."
I'll throw some other names at you.
Joe Girard
"He's a kid that I have seen (living in the tri-state area) and he can flat out shoot. He's not that talk (maybe 6-2), and his shot sometimes doesn't come out high and is flat, but for the most part, every time the ball leaves his hand, you think it's going in. He's not just a shooter; he can score. I'd just like to see what he develops into. A PG, a 2 Guard or a Combo Guard. He needs to work on point guard skills but he's not that far off. I see him as that scorer who doesn't have a label. He's a guard who on any night can go off for 20 plus."
Bryan Antoine & Scottie Lewis.
"Both are players I've been able to see multiple times. Bryan (no slight to Scottie) might be my favorite player out of Jersey since Kyrie (and Jason Williams too). Bryan is another guard that can score in many ways and he's so good at finding ways to attack the defense. Good handle, good movement off the ball and a play maker with the ball in his hands. He a good athlete too. Special kid that is the one-and-done rule still applies, he will be a player that leaves after a year."
"Scottie is a tad different type of player. He's longer, and plays with an explosiveness about him. He's a guy that get right up on you defensively and has a very high motor. He's a scorer too and finds his ways. He has a determination about him and you can see him impact a game. He's more of a wing type, 2-3 guy whereas Bryan is a combo guard, a 1 or 2. "
"These two are very close fiends and I've heard there are coaches pitching them as a package deal. Although that is a good angle to come from the only true contenders to package them up is Duke, Kentucky and Villanova. There is a chance they go to the same college but I suspect they will go to separate schools. Great kids. They both need to get physically stronger. Bryan needs to focus on mixing it up a bit more to grab boards and Scottie could tighten up his handle. Who ever gets them will be lucky. Both are Pros."
Wendell Moore
"I haven't seen a lot of him, but what I have seen, I like his game. He's a slasher type that is strong, I like how he uses his body. He's a 2-3, and because he's so physically ready, he could hit the college seen running and make an immediate contribution. I've talked to a few people and he's on the radar (one-and-done) and has people following him. He and Scottie's (Lewis) games overlap some and I can't see him attending a school that has a player with his similar skills sets already there in his class. He's got an alpha personality."
Cole Anthony
"He might be the best combination of pure point skills with a scorers mentality that has been in any class the last few years. He's very good with the ball in his hands and can dribble, pass, play make for others and himself. But he's a scorer and could be used with another ball handler where Cole can work getting his shot too. He's getting bigger too, I've heard a good 6-3. With his athletic heritage and his dad's guidance, he will be in the League sooner than later. Don't get me wrong, he's not a finished product yet, and he has areas such as defending, rebounding and decision making that all young PGs need to focus on, but he's very good. A definite Pro."
Matthew Hurt
"He's a more advanced player, but can do all of the same things as Baker (Joey) but he's more fluid at this point. He's not a true big but that big that can play inside and out of in Duke terminology, a stretch 4. He can do work in the paint. He's got a great attitude and work ethic. He will make a name for himself as a Fr in college. He's got a future in the NBA. "
How about some bigs. Starting with Vernon Carey.
"He's a versatile big guy that's got power, strength, touch and skill to go along with size. He hasn't defined who he is as a big guy completely though. He spends a lot of time outside the paint roaming which is good at times when you have his skills away from the basket, but with his ability to over power other players, playing inside then out would suit him better. I can see Vernon being used like Duke used Carter; not Bagley. Listen the kid is a Pro after his Fr year and he's a Pro now if he could come out. Stud as far as size and skill."
Isaiah Stewart
"Extremely strong and physical player. A rebounding guy that does all the dirty work. His game is not like Vernon (Carey). He's makes room in the paint by using his body which is already college ready (heck he's physically Pro ready). He needs to continue to work on his post scoring by refining his footwork, making his post moves quicker and cleaner and extending his range a bit, but make no mistakes about it, he's a post guy. Will need a few years of college but when he puts it all together he will have a very good college career. Will watch his development to see how his strengths translates to the new Pro game."
Armando Bacot
"I think he's the most intriguing as far as a kid that can do a little bit of everything well and might not get the recognition he should. He's really improved over the last year and he's older than most in the 2019 class. He's a player that could be one that if he has that productive Fr year, could position himself to be one-and-done. His game translates to the Pro game. He should look for a college program that will allow him to roam the inside of the arc because he can do work there. Still needs to get stronger and work on his short jumper."
Can I put you on the spot and ask you who you could see going to Duke.
"Sure, this isn't my calling, but I could give my two cents."
Duke type players:
"Girard, he's that scorer/shooter, Duke loves. Antoine, he's a true guard with combo skills that does well at Duke. Stewart would fall in the next tier and he would do well for Duke."
"The kids I see as 50/50 to Duke would be Moore, he's that slasher, driver that Coach K has experience with. Bacot, he's a versatile big that Duke has recently started to get. But I see those two as a UNC/Duke battle to land. I'll put Cole as 50/50 too."
"The guys I see with somewhat of a chance for Duke to possibly get are Vernon but Miami and Mich State are very involved, Scottie Lewis, who is high on Kentucky and Villanova and Matthew Hurt, who Kansas has made a priority."
