Duke
University (6)
by Adam Spinella
Projected Starters
G
6-5
PT%
0.00
G
PTE
0.00
6-4
PT%
20.64
G
F
F
PT%
0.00
6-8
6-9
PT%
53.27
HS100 AC/AA
13
Grayson Allen
PTE
7.48
6-5
PT%
54.29
Derryck Thornton
HS100 AC/AA
24
Matt Jones
FR
NBA
40
SO
NBA
50
JR
PTE
9.71
HS100 AC/AA
34
NBA
PTE
0.00
HS100 AC/AA
4
NBA
3
PTE
16.06
HS100 AC/AA
21
NBA
Brandon Ingram
Amile Jefferson
FR
SR
Bench Rotation
F
6-10
PT%
0.00
G
PTE
0.00
6-5
PT%
0.00
C
PT%
24.04
F
PT%
65.92
Chase Jeter
Luke Kennard
PTE
0.00
7-0
HS100 AC/AA
14
HS100 AC/AA
21
Marshall Plumlee
PTE
9.98
HS100 AC/AA
61
6-9 Sean Obi
PTE
13.76
HS100 AC/AA
FR
NBA
FR
NBA
SR
NBA
SO
NBA
The defending National
Champions lost three first-round
draft picks, four starters, and nearly
80 percent of their offense from last
season. Repeating seems like a steep
task for Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue
Devils. With star freshmen Derryck
Thornton, Chase Jeter, and Brandon
Ingram as the new faces of the Duke
dynasty, this roster is built to not
only replace the losses from last
season’s miracle run, but to compete
at the highest levels of competition
immediately.
Returning big men Amile
Jefferson and Marshall Plumlee
are two seniors that are excellent
role players. Jefferson made a
move out of the starting lineup
late in the season to cede way for
Justise Winslow as the team’s power
forward. Embracing his role off the
bench, the senior from Philadelphia
provided a spark of energy when
he entered the game as a defensive
presence inside. Plumlee, on the
other hand, was fantastic in two-big
lineups last season for the Devils,
particularly when the team switched
to a zone defense. He’s a ball of
energy that isn’t quite as athletic as
his two older brothers, but will lay
his body on the line to make the
right play. Plumlee shot 76 percent
from the field last year, mostly due
to an impeccable shot selection.
The new beast in the frontcourt
is freshman Chase Jeter out of Las
Vegas. Jeter is an athletic and mobile
6-foot-10 big man who runs the
floor well and finishes with power
above the rim. Similar to Jahlil
Okafor, Jeter isn’t very skilled on
the perimeter and will spend a good
deal of time on the blocks in post-up
situations.
The other five-star freshman,
Brandon Ingram, may be more
talented, though he’s a unique
fit on the wing. Ingram is a
true wing player, with a sweet
shooting stroke from deep and
the athleticism to get to the rim
off the bounce or on a cut. At
6-foot-8 he’s got plenty of size
to mismatch against most other
wings, but due to depth on the
wings, Krzyzewski will play
Ingram at power forward plenty.
But at 195 pounds soaking
wet, Ingram may not be able
defend many power forwards
in the ACC. He’s not built like
Winslow, physically or mentally.
Where Winslow thrived on the
challenge and the toughness that
his stocky frame could take, the
wiry thin Ingram will have to
rely on being crafty and savvy
on the defensive end. Ingram
BBALLBREAKDOWN | 14