2020 Recruiting

Arlene

All-Conference
Feb 5, 2003
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Everything I've been reading, Mark Williams is coming, it's just when will he announce? He is roommates with Jalen Johnson at IMG Academy.
I really want him, 7 footer, ranked 29th overall in the class. Think he could be a multi-year guy while also being able to make contributions his freshman year. He's a banger.

I'd love for us to get Dickinson as well, but I don't know if we will. Jalen Johnson will be starting at the 4, and we should have Coleman and Mark Williams battling for minutes. Not to mention...the biggest fish of all, Kuminga, still could reclass. That would eliminate any worry for the 2020-2021 Duke team.
Adam Rowe said Kuminga is the best player in high school right now..period.

Just doesn’t make sense to me to play Johnson at the 4 when we will have Javin, Baker, Brakefield, and Coleman as for sure 4s. On the other other hand, the only definite SF would be Jalen Johnson unless Moore can back. Guess you could also play Stanley at the 3.

Of course, all of the above would be mute if Kuminga jumped on board in this class because you would play him at 3 and Jalen at the 4.
 
Dec 12, 2012
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Just doesn’t make sense to me to play Johnson at the 4 when we will have Javin, Baker, Brakefield, and Coleman as for sure 4s. On the other other hand, the only definite SF would be Jalen Johnson unless Moore can back. Guess you could also play Stanley at the 3.

Of course, all of the above would be mute if Kuminga jumped on board in this class because you would play him at 3 and Jalen at the 4.



Javin is graduating this year.
 
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jimlsumner

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2003
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Just doesn’t make sense to me to play Johnson at the 4 when we will have Javin, Baker, Brakefield, and Coleman as for sure 4s. On the other other hand, the only definite SF would be Jalen Johnson unless Moore can back. Guess you could also play Stanley at the 3.

Of course, all of the above would be mute if Kuminga jumped on board in this class because you would play him at 3 and Jalen at the 4.

Baker and O'Connell can also play the 3.
 

dbav

All-American
Mar 14, 2014
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Is Jalen Johnson a Tatum-type player?

(Please note I'm not comparing him to Tatum in any other way than style. This is not a question seeking to determine if he is, or may be, as good as Tatum.)
 

tp394

Senior
Oct 26, 2018
794
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Is Jalen Johnson a Tatum-type player?

(Please note I'm not comparing him to Tatum in any other way than style. This is not a question seeking to determine if he is, or may be, as good as Tatum.)
Imo not really. Tatum was a much better shooter at this age. From what I’ve watched (which has just been highlights) Jalen is sort of like a point forward and he’s a tremendous passer. Seems like he likes to drive to the rim and then make a choice to lay it up or to drop it off to someone. I always assumed that he was a shooter but when i finally watched his highlights it surprised me to see him as more of a driver and distributor.
 
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dukehokie

All-American
Jun 27, 2005
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Is Jalen Johnson a Tatum-type player?

(Please note I'm not comparing him to Tatum in any other way than style. This is not a question seeking to determine if he is, or may be, as good as Tatum.)

Plays more like RJ because he’ll be a distributor. I think he’ll be more efficient than RJ because he doesn’t look to score quite as often.
 

nets on nets on nets

All-American
Jun 4, 2015
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I believe Jalen Johnson shot around 20% from 3 during this past EYBL summer. He definitely won't be a shooter at Duke. The good news is, he doesn't look to shoot, he looks to pass first.

I can't really find a good Duke comp for Jalen. The closest I can think of would be Ben Simmons at LSU. The difference is Jalen isn't as big as Ben, but both guys have similar skill sets.
Long story short, Jalen Johnson probably won't be the best OAD at Duke, but he is gonna be a completely different type of OAD than we are used to.
 

nets on nets on nets

All-American
Jun 4, 2015
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^ Is he similar to josh mcroberts at all?
Not really IMO. I guess the only similarities would be both guys were supremely advanced passers for their age.

Josh was much bigger, he played the 4 but could also play the 5. Josh was very good in the high post, but he was way too slow to ever play on the perimeter.
Jalen is more of a natural 3 who could play some small ball 4. But he’s smaller than Josh. He’s way better on his feet, and could even play some point forward, guard guys on the perimeter etc.
 
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dukehokie

All-American
Jun 27, 2005
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I believe Jalen Johnson shot around 20% from 3 during this past EYBL summer. He definitely won't be a shooter at Duke. The good news is, he doesn't look to shoot, he looks to pass first.

I can't really find a good Duke comp for Jalen. The closest I can think of would be Ben Simmons at LSU. The difference is Jalen isn't as big as Ben, but both guys have similar skill sets.
Long story short, Jalen Johnson probably won't be the best OAD at Duke, but he is gonna be a completely different type of OAD than we are used to.

He lists LeBron and Ben as two guys he patterns his game after.
 

christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
16,640
20,006
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It would be awesome to get both Williams and Dickinson, but something tells me we'll only get one, probably Williams. Yes, there are minutes to be had, but the back up center may not get many minutes as Duke has options and can go small if needed. It will have to be someone willing to wait their turn. Would love to be wrong. If we get both we'll be loaded. We'll be loaded even with one. Williams seems to be a perfect fit.
 
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johnl1219_

All-Conference
Apr 3, 2010
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It would be awesome to get both Williams and Dickinson, but something tells me we'll only get one, probably Williams. Yes, there are minutes to be had, but the back up center may not get many minutes as Duke has options and can go small if needed. It will have to be someone willing to wait their turn. Would love to be wrong. If we get both we'll be loaded. We'll be loaded even with one. Williams seems to be a perfect fit.

I think we all feel pretty good about getting Williams, but who backs Williams up? There literally will not be another big man on the roster, unless when you say small ball, Johnson, Brakefield or Coleman will be able to play the 5?
 
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christophero

Heisman
May 2, 2017
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I think Brakefield could. I agree we need him(Dickinson), but it's more of an insurance policy and not sure a top 30 guy will want to be that. Like i said I hope I'm wrong. We can always bring in another big body.
 

johnl1219_

All-Conference
Apr 3, 2010
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I think Brakefield could. I agree we need him(Dickinson), but it's more of an insurance policy and not sure a top 30 guy will want to be that. Like i said I hope I'm wrong. We can always bring in another big body.

Agreed, selling Dickinson on splitting time or less time at the 5 could be difficult. I just hope that Isaiah Todd picks Michigan on 10/17 which could have Dickinson thinking otherwise about going there.
 
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LetsGoDuke83

All-Conference
Feb 21, 2019
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Where did you hear that? If I can ask?

Of course, a personal friend that's pretty connected in recruiting(heavy AAU connections). He's usually pretty accurate but I'm in no way saying we are out/have no chance. Just relaying what he told me.
 

johnl1219_

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Apr 3, 2010
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Of course, a personal friend that's pretty connected in recruiting(heavy AAU connections). He's usually pretty accurate but I'm in no way saying we are out/have no chance. Just relaying what he told me.

Ouch, not really the news we all wanted to hear. As much as people have mixed feelings on OAD, bringing in the elite guys is a lot of fun to watch. Well, here's to a few guys coming back next year.
 

sheyduke

All-American
Apr 13, 2010
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Hearing our chances with kuminga are pretty low
There was an article in DBR that stated the same saying K had backed off since offering and trying to get him to reclassify.

It’s still to early with him for anyone he’s 2021 and the only other crystal ball is LSU.
 

bullettoothtony

All-Conference
Mar 29, 2010
1,196
1,405
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I don't know what the story is with Kuminga. A few weeks ago we were the perceived favorites and supposedly K wanted him to reclassify. In this article from five weeks ago, Corey Evans (rivals) said Kuminga seemed really intrigued by Duke and that we appeared to be on good footing.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/balldurham.com/2019/09/04/duke-basketball-cards-no-1-prospect/amp/

Then this week multiple reports came out saying otherwise.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/balldurham.com/2019/10/10/duke-basketball-losing-ground-no-1/amp/

Throw in the Brakefield recruitment and commitment coming out of nowhere--seemingly--and I have no earthly idea what to make of the Kuminga recruitment.

If the current info is true it is a major disappointment because he is an absolute stud. Just a monster on both ends of the floor.

I again want to point out I'm no insider... just stuff I've read over the last few weeks or so.
 
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Dec 12, 2012
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I think Brakefield could. I agree we need him(Dickinson), but it's more of an insurance policy and not sure a top 30 guy will want to be that. Like i said I hope I'm wrong. We can always bring in another big body.
No way Brakefield can play the 5 at the college level. He's a 3 and stretch 4 at best. He's too small to play the 5.
 

johnl1219_

All-Conference
Apr 3, 2010
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Perhaps there's always a hard look at Dawson Garcia. He's a 6'11'' 220 PF from MN.

He's not a center but could potentially play the 5 if desperate.
 

dukehokie

All-American
Jun 27, 2005
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Perhaps there's always a hard look at Dawson Garcia. He's a 6'11'' 220 PF from MN.

He's not a center but could potentially play the 5 if desperate.

I think the Garcia stuff has died...for the second time. I wish we stayed with him the first time.