Alex O'Connell, class of 2017 DUKE COMMIT
- Thread starter twdukefan
- Start date
Gotta love when a guy looks like he's 6'2 when he's playing alone, then you realize he's taller than the opposing center once the game starts.
I remember. Things looked better then haha. Let me hitch a ride on that time machine of yours.
I agree; I think he should just pick FSU if that's the case and follow in his dad's footsteps
Is Duke "all of a sudden" offering 2 4 star guards and a 4 star small forward a sign of anything? Are these guys looked at as late bloomer, a reaction to most likely not getting more primary targets, or the staff feeling more confident in the studs they will land and filling in with some 4 year types?
K couldn't take the peer pressure from THR so he offered a couple 4 stars.
There are only 25 five stars out there thusfar, and I bet about half of them would qualify at Duke. Of those 13 or so targets, 10 are bigs that want starters minutes. K and Co. picked their favs and offered. We are looking good for a few of those elite guys. That leaves us filing in positional needs with awesome 4 star guys, those like Grayson Allen heading into his senior year. Villanova has a whole roster of four star talent, and they've very done well. We are doing better in recruiting than I ever thought possible. I say enjoy the feast, which I know we all are.
Exactly. K hasn't been handling the label of a "One-and-Done Factory" very well. He has capitulated to the criticism of others and now he's setting for recruits. Thanks a lot, THR!
The reality is that he is doing what he has always done. Trying to fill and build a well rounded roster. Ones where the stars are such and the role players are just that. Not everyone is or can be a scorer. We need the role players like Matt, Amile, Lance, Zoubs etc. Their roles are just as important as the guys getting all the press. K has his sights set on certain types of kids- always has and always will. Sometimes those kids go after one year and sometimes they stay all four. But they all are kids that K believes have the characteristics of what he's looking for to be successful at Duke and in life. He's been doing this for 30 years.
I think as much as anything, he expects the likely mass exodus after this season. Amile and Jones will be gone via graduation, and Allen, Giles, and Tatum will declare. There could also be an additional player, like a Bolden, who could leave if Duke has the year we hope. In the next class, Carter and maybe Trent, should Duke get them, are also guys that won't be around long. K is making sure the stable is full.
His dad was was Dave.
As for Richie, you probably confusing former Duke player Richie O'Conner with Dave O'Connell.
As for the kid, I would recommend serious weight training and a lot of all you can eat buffets.
A sign of confidence, or am I optimistically reading too much into it, haha.
Can't way to see O'Connell on the court next year. The videos make it seem like he has a sort of "sneaky" athleticism like the Grayson clips did. It is so smooth that you don't think he's getting much lift, and when the plays over you realize he just dunked with a foot to spare. That's how I saw many of Grayson's highlight reels.
Dammit, why won't this season start?
Last edited:
I completely agree with the concept of filling out the roster with 4 year guys. I was just wondering if these recent offers were an indication of not getting Knox and Bamba or was Duke going to offer a couple of 4 year types regardless, but was just waiting to take a longer look at guys like O'Connell and Tucker.
Im not sure if I would compare them, simply because their roles would be different. Quinn would be a 4th sometimes 5th option on O when he was in with Jah, Justise, Tyus and Matt or Amile, or even back to when you had the Jabari teams or Austin team or Seth/Mason team, where as when Tucker gets it, he'll be a second maybe third option on O.
With that said, they wear the #2, they shoot threes well, especially the corner three, and both have a nice handle, though Quinn's is much better. Tucker finishes ok at the rim, but pound for pound, inch for inch, Quinn was better at the same stage. Either way, Tucker will be very good and it won't take long for him to reach that.
Face, body language, and in mannerisms he reminds me of Quinn. And, on some of his drives/layups. Please let him shoot the 3 as well as Quinn did his senior year.
How high do you guys think he will rise in the rankings? Not that ranking are the end all, but the should be some indication of his potential and more importantly, his body of work.
How high do you guys think he will rise in the rankings? Not that ranking are the end all, but the should be some indication of his potential and more importantly, his body of work.
Don't be surprised if the 2017 class has more long term players than OAD guys. Duke has to recruit in the 2017 class on a 2 year window meaning the 2017 group will be the core of the squad when Soph bc the 2018 class isn't as deep with talent and the players Duke is targeting all appear to be on the OAD path.
I don't know that I stand "firm" in him going to UNC, but I think they're very much a player for his services.
He's going to have a few things to look at in the spring. For one, does Justin Jackson return for his senior year? If so, then I don't envision Knox going there. If Jackson goes, as is kind of expected, then I think they're really in play. We pretty much know that Tatum is just a one-year player so that wing spot would be there for the taking. That said, Knox might look at Duke's class (when the time comes) and potentially see Trent and Carter, paired with returnees like Kennard and F. Jackson and feel his 'showcase' opportunities might be better served elsewhere. And we can't leave out FSU. I really do think they're a player here too. As for UK? They're always a player....but some rumblings suggest he envisions himself playing in the ACC. We'll see.
I agree, when the dust settles and you compare rosters, you have to like Duke's chances. Knox would have a chance to play for a title with DUke vs potentially not making the tournament with UNC. Plus, Roy's track record with SF is atrocious.
Not true. Roy has Justin Jackson on pace to become the ACC all-time leader in tear drop runners made.
The cupboard could be a little bare for the Heels next season. We know for certain that Hicks and Meeks are gone, and if Berry and Jackson leave early then they're going to be even more thin. That said, who is to say that isn't an attractive option for Knox? He could be looking at a senior Pinson, juniors Maye and Williams, and then this year's freshmen as sophomores to go along with their '17 class. His opportunity for playing time and exposure might be greater there than at Duke.
That's why I pointed out the potential of Carter and Trent at Duke coupled with a sophomore F. Jackson and junior Kennard and he's probably not one of the top three or four offensive options. That might not bode well for him if he seriously has one-and-done aspirations.
That's why I pointed out the potential of Carter and Trent at Duke coupled with a sophomore F. Jackson and junior Kennard and he's probably not one of the top three or four offensive options. That might not bode well for him if he seriously has one-and-done aspirations.
If he goes to unc he could lead the heels in scoring all four years he is there which means he probably become unc's all time leading scorer which means he would be the NCAA all time leading scorer and at least a 3 time All American. All those things along with all the nanner puddin he can eat is a very attractive offer. I think the thr guru's may be right on about him. OFC