Looking at the various two round mock drafts only Jalen Johnson is going in round 1. Last I saw, Hurt was 42 on ESPNs mock. No one else was in the top 54.
In USA Today's rankings, Steward was 42 and Hurt was 52.
NBA draft net and NBA draft room have only Johnson in the first and no other Duke player in the 2nd. Hurt is 78th in the draft room (among those on the bubble).
Personally, I think it would be best for all to return given their play this year. There has been some really good flashes from Hurt, Steward, and Williams in particular. What a player "should" do doesn't mean much, of course.
I know the G-league is an option but the pay there is $35K for 5 months. Nice, but nothing exceptional.
What is everyone's thoughts or predictions about who will actually leave?
I could see Hurt or Steward going but really I think they'd be eaten alive and have trouble making a roster next year - though they both have talent to play in the league down the road. Mark Williams play of late probably has the attention of some NBA scouts but he too is so thin he could use another year or two.
The one thing that often makes me wonder about Duke's training is that players often don't add a lot of needed muscle and strength. There are exceptions, of course. Williams could use a diet/weightlifting regimen that adds 15 lbs of good weight to his frame.
If we just add the two big recruits K could have a good rotation going of 8-9, which would be ideal.
Hurt-Steward-Williams-Brakefield-Coleman-Roach-Baker, plus the two freshman could really be a quality team and help all the players' games and NBA opportunities. If that team were to get to the Final Four playing good as a team and contributing, all those guys have enhanced chances. I'd think Baker should be the last off the bench. He's just far too inconsistent.
(honestly, I just think that the NBA dream, the failure of the NCAA to change with the cultural trends, and for Duke, their flawed one and done emphasis, is eroding the interest, excitement, and quality of play at the college level and at Duke. It just does not carry the level of amazement and greatness that the 90's and 2000s carried. Everything is so focused on professional basketball. Unless the NCAA makes radical changes, it's going to be too late.)
In USA Today's rankings, Steward was 42 and Hurt was 52.
NBA draft net and NBA draft room have only Johnson in the first and no other Duke player in the 2nd. Hurt is 78th in the draft room (among those on the bubble).
Personally, I think it would be best for all to return given their play this year. There has been some really good flashes from Hurt, Steward, and Williams in particular. What a player "should" do doesn't mean much, of course.
I know the G-league is an option but the pay there is $35K for 5 months. Nice, but nothing exceptional.
What is everyone's thoughts or predictions about who will actually leave?
I could see Hurt or Steward going but really I think they'd be eaten alive and have trouble making a roster next year - though they both have talent to play in the league down the road. Mark Williams play of late probably has the attention of some NBA scouts but he too is so thin he could use another year or two.
The one thing that often makes me wonder about Duke's training is that players often don't add a lot of needed muscle and strength. There are exceptions, of course. Williams could use a diet/weightlifting regimen that adds 15 lbs of good weight to his frame.
If we just add the two big recruits K could have a good rotation going of 8-9, which would be ideal.
Hurt-Steward-Williams-Brakefield-Coleman-Roach-Baker, plus the two freshman could really be a quality team and help all the players' games and NBA opportunities. If that team were to get to the Final Four playing good as a team and contributing, all those guys have enhanced chances. I'd think Baker should be the last off the bench. He's just far too inconsistent.
(honestly, I just think that the NBA dream, the failure of the NCAA to change with the cultural trends, and for Duke, their flawed one and done emphasis, is eroding the interest, excitement, and quality of play at the college level and at Duke. It just does not carry the level of amazement and greatness that the 90's and 2000s carried. Everything is so focused on professional basketball. Unless the NCAA makes radical changes, it's going to be too late.)
