Recruits for next year

[adm015]

Someone please give me a break down of the recruits we have coming to Duke next year. I refuse to look at youtube mix tape video showing nothing but slam dunks and wide open 3's.

What does each player bring to the court day one and what player do they most likely resemble.

Frank Jackson- Will he be a point guard or 2 guard. Is he a good shooter or slasher? What about defensively?

Tatum- Who can I compare him to, Paker, Winslow Ingram or someone else?

Giles- Give me a breakdown of this kid?

Javin- Will he be like the PF's we have had in the past from Lance Thomas to Thornton and now Jefferson. We he be a decent defensive player but lack an offensive game?

 

[aah555]

From the little I've seen and read, I think as follows:
*Tatum reminds me of a young Alan Houston
*Giles (pre-injury) has been compared to Chris Webber
*Frank reminds me a lot of Nolan Smith, but with maybe a purer shoot from deep.

 

[dukiejay]

Jackson is more of a combo guard, who I see best fitting in college as a two. I'm not sure him at PG with next season's team would play to his ideal strengths.

Tatum doesn't have the range of an Allan Houston (at this time), but he's developed an adequate outside shot. He's comfortable facing up and taking his man off the dribble or using his body down low against smaller defenders. He's a matchup nightmare for college SF's, and many PF's too.

I haven't seen Giles play live once. What I gather from others is his impressive length and athleticism. The one knock I've sometimes read on him is taking plays off. Whether that is true or not I can't vouch for. Pretty jumper and an explosive first step.

Javin is in the mold of the guys you listed. Great motor with an expanding offensive game. Probably not a game-changer day one and might struggle to find more than 10 mpg as a freshman, but he's going to be a fan favorite while he's here and will have the potential to be All-ACC once he becomes an upperclassmen.

Comparisons to other players? That's hard to do and I don't like making them. Just know this is a very, very good class coming in next season.

 

[DMoore5818]

Harry Giles > Antwain Jamison

 

[nets on nets on nets]

Harry and Jayson will be top 3 picks next year.
Frank is a combo guard who will play minutes from day 1.
Javin has a great motor and will push our studs to be great everyday in practice.

 

[Get Nasty]

I've seen Tatum and Jackson play live.

Jackson reminds me of Steve Francis from a talent standpoint. Strong,super athletic, beautiful shot, solid passer, solid handle, combo guard height. I do agree with Dukiejay that his best position in college is the 2, but I just don't see how you keep him off the court if Grayson comes back at the 2. Seems to really play smart and when needed team first basketball better than Francis. He just seems to keep getting better and better, if that continues, watch out!

Tatum is long and really sneaky athletic. He might be duke's best player next year offensively. Didn't get a good read on his defense in the 2 games I watched as they were run and gun. He can do everything offensively, even more so than Ingram IMHO. Ingram doesn't have the athleticism of Tatum. I'm predicting Tatum as the #1 pick in the NBA draft next year.

 

[dukedevilz]

I've always thought of Frank as another Grayson, personally. But I've been wrong before..

 

[Get Nasty]

I've always thought of Frank as another Grayson, personally. But I've been wrong before..

Some very similar qualities and differences as well. Jackson to me has a little better handle, lateral quickness, and a little more athleticism. Grayson is more of a standstill shooter on 3's where jackson is a jump shooter on 3's if that makes sense. I don't expect him to shoot the 3 as well as grayson from a % stand point, and grayson has an amazing ability to create contact and get to the line. Hard to teach that. I would expect jackson to be better on D.

 

[adm015]

Do you guys think with the talent coming in and the players returning that Coach K will play more guys say 9-10 or will he continue to play 7-8 max.

If Allen comes back along with Thornton, Kennard, Jones, Jeter, Obi, Tatum, Jackson, Javin and Giles. That is 10 right there not including the possibility of Amile Jefferson coming back or landing Bolden.

PG-Thornton/Jackson
SG-Allen/Kennard
SF-Tatum/Jones
PF-Giles/Obi/Javin
C-Jefferson or Bolden/Jeter

I think Coach K could really make this work, play pressure defense knowing we have the players on the bench who are more than able to come in and provide on both ends of the court.

 

[crazyduke3]

I've heard Jayson has a filthy fade away J. Him and Harry on the court will make for outrageous talent on the court.

 

[twdukefan]

Jayson Tatum has a terrific mid-range game and he's just a big-game player. Harry was ridiculously athletic before the ACL injury and hopefully we see that relatively early on in his Duke career. Frank looks like he just wants to put someone on a poster each time he drives, seemingly with ruthless aggression. Javin will be a solid backup providing spot minutes to spell Tatum and presumably Amile if he redshirts. It's a well-rounded class, now with the addition of Jack White and possibly Bolden.

 

[dukehokie]

I can understand understating some of these guys' talent for the sake of not creating unreal expectation, but Tatum and Giles may be two of the best talents we've had at Duke since Kyrie.

How the team gels is one thing, but their talent is undeniable.

 

[Baller224]

Do you guys think with the talent coming in and the players returning that Coach K will play more guys say 9-10 or will he continue to play 7-8 max.

If Allen comes back along with Thornton, Kennard, Jones, Jeter, Obi, Tatum, Jackson, Javin and Giles. That is 10 right there not including the possibility of Amile Jefferson coming back or landing Bolden.

PG-Thornton/Jackson
SG-Allen/Kennard
SF-Tatum/Jones
PF-Giles/Obi/Javin
C-Jefferson or Bolden/Jeter

I think Coach K could really make this work, play pressure defense knowing we have the players on the bench who are more than able to come in and provide on both ends of the court.

I don't see Obi getting any minutes whatsoever next year.

 

[Crank_it_loud]

I anticipate Vrank getting minutes over Obi, particularly if Bolden goes elsewhere....

 

[yagerzzz]

Hi. Not necessarily a Duke fan here, but thought I'd drop a note about one of your recruits next year.

I just watched Jayson Tatum drop 45 in the Missouri class 5 quarterfinals last weekend to send his team to the final 4 of the largest schools in the state. He beat a very good CBC team (his dad actually coaches that team) that has a few D-I players of its own. You guys are in for quite a treat next year. His 15 - 19 foot fade-a-way is un-defendable, and he's deadly with it. I can't remember him missing a shot the whole game. Has a very smooth outside stroke too, along with quickness to the basket that is rarely found on a 6' 9" frame. Kid's got a crazy wing span too which really helps on D. There were probably 7 D-I athletes playing in that high school game. He was a couple leagues above the others. I think the only player from Missouri in Tatum's league is Michael Porter Jr (a junior at a smaller school). That kid's legit too, and already has an offer from Duke if I'm not mistaken.

While not a Duke fan per se, I will be following you guys next year to watch how he does. Love following the local youth in college and beyond.

 

[LetsGoDukies]

Thanks yagerzzz, we are definitely excited to get Tatum on board!

@chapel_thrill - don't worry he probably won't live up to these expectations.

 

[Willcampbell]

Hi. Not necessarily a Duke fan here, but thought I'd drop a note about one of your recruits next year.

I just watched Jayson Tatum drop 45 in the Missouri class 5 quarterfinals last weekend to send his team to the final 4 of the largest schools in the state. He beat a very good CBC team (his dad actually coaches that team) that has a few D-I players of its own. You guys are in for quite a treat next year. His 15 - 19 foot fade-a-way is un-defendable, and he's deadly with it. I can't remember him missing a shot the whole game. Has a very smooth outside stroke too, along with quickness to the basket that is rarely found on a 6' 9" frame. Kid's got a crazy wing span too which really helps on D. There were probably 7 D-I athletes playing in that high school game. He was a couple leagues above the others. I think the only player from Missouri in Tatum's league is Michael Porter Jr (a junior at a smaller school). That kid's legit too, and already has an offer from Duke if I'm not mistaken.

While not a Duke fan per se, I will be following you guys next year to watch how he does. Love following the local youth in college and beyond.

Thanks for the post,
OFC

 

[yagerzzz]

Another update on Tatum for you guys. He had another big day. I went to the state semi-final game last night and watched Tatum's Red Devils crush SLUH 75-49. He dropped 28 and became his schools all time leading scorer (surpassing Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards - another local player I followed 6-7 years ago). He currently has 2,636 career points with one game left to go. Among his 28 points, he had three dunks, two of the highlight reel variety. He also got his hand on a lot of shots and passes defensively.

Oh yea, he was just named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Missouri for the 3rd straight year too. Like I said, big day for him.

I'll be headed to Columbia to watch him hopefully win a state championship on Saturday. He also plays in the McDonalds All American game in Chicago on March 30th for anyone who has time to watch it on ESPN.

BTW, congrats on your first round win yesterday.

 

[Showenuff]

Awesome reports man, we thank you. http://www.themaneater.com/stories/2016/3/18/chaminades-jayson-tatum-shows-flashes-greatness-mi/

 

[Friction.]

Another advantage not normally mentioned is the intimidation factor Giles & Jackson will bring to the court. Guards will be a little more hesitant to drive with Giles in the paint and Jackson can bring a mean streak to the table. I can also see him pumping up the Duke team when he makes a big play.