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Duke Basketball: Redshirting is the best option for Joey Baker

By Kevin Connelly

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils directs his team against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half during the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 15: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils directs his team against the Kansas Jayhawks in the second half during the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 15, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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The fifth freshman of the star studded Duke Basketball 2018 recruiting class has a major decision to make, whether to redshirt or not.

Joey Baker was committed to Duke for the 2019 recruiting class but the small forward decided to reclassify and be apart of the already stacked 2018 recruiting class.

Baker joined the likes of R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish, Zion Williamson, and Tre Jones as freshman in Durham this year, but the question remains, where does Baker fit on this team.

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Listed at six-foot-seven-inches and 200 pounds, Baker could play a small forward or shooting guard position, but the Blue Devils already have a surplus of players at those positions, Baker and Duke could greatly benefit if he redshirted this season.

Joey Baker isn’t a one-and-done type of player and he potentially could have Barrett, Reddish, Jack White, and Alex O’Connell ahead of him on the depth chart, and there are only a certain amount of minutes to go around.

When Baker reclassified to 2018, he knew the situation he was walking into and said that he could be open to redshirting this season, and that is what he should do.

Redshirting in 2018 still gives Baker four years of eligibility at Duke and he is still able to practice with the team, while getting stronger in the weight room, getting used to the intensity and speed of Duke Basketball and growing accustomed to life on campus.

The Blue Devils currently do not have any commits for 2019, and why that certainly will change, having Baker for his first season next year is essentially gaining another commit that has already been on campus for an entire season.

Joey Baker would be able to lead in the incoming class of freshmen and share his experience with them, as it looks like the other four freshmen will only be at Duke for one season.

Having Joey Baker redshirt is a win-win for both him and the Blue Devils as he gains valuable knowledge from this season that he can use going into next year and beyond.

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