Duke Video Scrimmage!

Here’s some video from Thursday’s scrimmage. Joey Baker had 27 points which is great to see.

Just some general observations:

• Paolo Banchero absolutely looks like a pro. He’s extremely impressive. He’s 6-10 but has a very complete game.
• We continue to be impressed with AJ Griffith’s athleticism and all-around game. We think a lot of people are going to be surprise at just how talented he is.
• At least in this scrimmage, Jeremy Roach looks like a different player. His offense looks dramatically improved. He may have the softest jumper on the team.
• We think this group will allow Wendell Moore to shine in his natural role as someone who is like a glue guy+.
• We really admire how Joey Baker has worked while at Duke. He’s the kind of guy you wish could stay for 10 years. You can always use a guy like Baker. At times he’s had to do things that are out of his natural game. This team will allow him to focus more on his three point shooting.
• Trevor Keels is a lot thicker than we realized. We mean that in a good way.
• We’re sure Mark Williams is stronger than he was last year but he still looks gawky at times. No big surprise - he’s 7-1 and 19. He may not fill out completely until he’s in his mid 20 and he’s still a wicked smart big man. Fortunately, Duke has Banchero and Theo John for power inside so Williams, like Moore and Baker, won’t have to do things he’s not ready for. And of course we’re quite sure he’s stronger than he was last year even if it doesn’t show in an obvious way.
• We really like Jaylen Blakes. He doesn’t show a lot here but he’s tough and we think he’s going to be a gritty backup, probably a fan favorite.