Duke Basketball: Boogie Ellis commits to Blue Devils, helps 2019-20 depth
By Matt Giles
Is Boogie Ellis a potential starter in 2019-2020?
What the expected departures from the current Duke basketball squad mean for Ellis — barring a breakout freshman campaign, he is likely to stay in Durham for more than one season — is that plenty of playing time should be up for grabs on a roster that, as it stands, would grossly trail the current one when it comes to top-rated talent.
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As it looks at the moment, Ellis would likely compete for a starting role at the two-guard spot with current sophomore Alex O’Connell. However, if Jones bolts for the NBA, Ellis would likely get a shot to vie against current sophomore Jordan Goldwire for the role of the team’s starting floor general (assuming the Blue Devils don’t extend an offer to another 2019 guard — and win the battle — or find a graduate transfer).
The Blue Devils still have offers on the table to three 2019 prospects, none of whom are guards, yet all of whom are highly sought-after five-stars: center Vernon Carey Jr. (ranked No. 2 on the composite rankings), center Isaiah Stewart (ranked No. 5), and forward Matthew Hurt (ranked No. 6).
Any Duke basketball fans holding out hopes for a five-star guard to join the 2019 class can go ahead and flush them; there is only one five-star guard who hasn’t yet announced a commitment (Cole Anthony), and he already eliminated the Blue Devils from his list.
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Well, maybe don’t flush all hope: the stock of Ellis has been on the rise within the past year — as a result of his notable determination to improve his game — meaning it’s possible he could receive a five-star rating by the end of his current senior season.
Either way, no matter the number of stars next to the name of Ellis, fans should be thrilled to have the chance to watch his growth in a Duke jersey for (hopefully) many years to come.
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