:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67354529/usa_today_11379994.0.jpg)
Duke has the potential, in 2021-22, to put together a tremendous front court. With commitments already from AJ Griffin and Paolo Blanchero, two versatile forwards with real subtlety in their games, the Blue Devils have two guys with tremendous skills and the ability to play all over the court. Both are willing defenders too.
The Blue Devils are also seen as a favorite for Top 5 recruit Patrick Baldwin, with most people seeing Duke and Milwaukee as the two favorites.
If he chooses Milwaukee, he’ll stay home and play for his father, Patrick Baldwin Sr. And if he chooses Duke, he’ll be in the national hunt and in a position to start building his endorsement portfolio because Duke’s exposure means deferred income for elite players (you can imagine that when he recruits a kid, Coach K goes into the family home and says something like “playing for Duke means that you’re very likely to get (fill in the blank) this much in endorsement money whenever you leave school. We can’t pay you but we can put you in a position to be better paid than any other school in college, with the possible exceptions of LSU and Kentucky.”
Okay, we tossed that bit about LSU and UK in. It’s a bit gratuitous but big whoop. You go where the joke takes you. But just to be clear for SEC and UNC fans: COACH K DID NOT SAY THAT.
Anyway, the idea of a front court with Banchero, Griffin and Baldwin is very intriguing. So check out this video that breaks down Baldwin’s game. Like most of you, we haven’t seen these guys play but the video we’ve seen and what we’ve read about their various skillsets is incredibly exciting.