Top Five Duke Freshman Seasons in the One and Done Era

[BlueDevilStop]

Title says top 5, but had to add one more because if felt wrong not mentioning him. What would be your rankings?

https://bluedevilstop.com/top-five-duke-freshman-seasons-in-the-one-and-done-era/

 

[jnastasi]

1. Zion - beast
2. Okafor - 1st team AA + national title, ACC POY
3. Bagley - 1st team AA, ACC POY
4. Barrett - 1st team AA
5. Tyus - FF MVP, national title, most clutch/big shot player since maybe Laettner

 

[Liftee]

That's a great list. I would put Bagley second. I also would mention Luol Deng and Justise Winslow. But I don't know who I would take off that list to include them.

 

[jwill133]

1. Zion: just too dominant to be anywhere else.
2A. Bagley
2B. Okafor- You pick between the two. Bagley's numbers were better, Okafor won bigger. Both absolute studs.
4. Barrett: Feel like he is underrated at this point since Zion overshadowed him so much.
5. Tyus: You could put a few guys in this spot with much better numbers, but none of them won Final 4 MOP.

 

[timo0402]

Jabari just so under appreciated. He didn’t win in the tourney so he gets docked. Unfortunately. But he had an amazing year, much better than Tyus....but again, the lasting impression.

 

[geddoughton23]

Zion is #1. His impact could be Jordanesque if he is healthy. The seeding of the rest is not consequential.

 

[jnastasi]

Jabari just so under appreciated. He didn’t win in the tourney so he gets docked. Unfortunately. But he had an amazing year, much better than Tyus....but again, the lasting impression.

Thought about Jabari but it’s all about the tourney and they choked. I thought Jabari was gonna be the next Carmelo too.

 

[timo0402]

Thought about Jabari but it’s all about the tourney and they choked. I thought Jabari was gonna be the next Carmelo too.

That team couldn’t get a stop to save their lives, it was their Achilles heel. I won’t let that sour how good he was though, just disappointed we didn’t get to see more of him.

 

[topps coach]

Not in one and done era but Gene Banks has to be in the top five Freshman players of all time with both numbers and talent

 

[christophero]

Not the best; but my 5 favorites.
1. Justice
2. Deng
3. Okafor
4. Tyus
5. Zion

 

[geddoughton23]

I think Vernon Carey is about #5. His per minutes numbers were sensational.

 

[jwill133]

Brakefield gonna go crazy scoring this season...right??

 

[dbav]

I forgot Luke had those scoring numbers that year. He was a monster.

 

[jnastasi]

I forgot Luke had those scoring numbers that year. He was a monster.

He’s a decent player off the bench in the nba but he could’ve hit that JJ type career had he stayed. He would’ve played with bagley/carter and Zion/RJ and might’ve left there with a national title or two?

 

[christophero]

Having Luke and Trent stay another year could have definitely brought us a title, but to be fair other teams can make cases like that as well.

 

[jwill133]

Luke made the right decision to leave, he was pick 12 in a loaded draft. He struck when his stock was at the absolute maximum value. To be blunt, Luke was not a lottery type talent but his number's got him drafted there.

I'm glad everything worked out for Trent. Still think he could have came back, made tons of open threes on a loaded team with Zion and gone in the first round. But whatever, he took the gamble as a second rounder and it paid off. Good for him.

 

[timo0402]

Luke made the right decision to leave, he was pick 12 in a loaded draft. He struck when his stock was at the absolute maximum value. To be blunt, Luke was not a lottery type talent but his number's got him drafted there.

I'm glad everything worked out for Trent. Still think he could have came back, made tons of open threes on a loaded team with Zion and gone in the first round. But whatever, he took the gamble as a second rounder and it paid off. Good for him.

Exactly. There’s more ways than one to get to the same Place. As a fan i wish both had stayed. I bet if they did, Luke’s stock doesn’t reach where he went and Gary’s goes higher. Is what it is.