Duke basketball: Blue Devils closing in quick on pivotal 2020 target

Two recent pledges may set off a chain reaction of five-stars joining the Duke basketball 2020 class, with the next commitment possibly coming from what looks to be the most essential piece: a center.

With likely no big men returning after next season, the Duke basketball paint department has openings to fill for the fall of 2020.

The boss, Mike Krzyzewski, has completed the first round of interviews and extended a couple of offers. The prized applicant, proven paint-shaker Walker Kessler, seems to be in the final stages of his decision as to whether or not he accepts the legend’s offer.

Fingers crossed he does, for the five-star center, who ranks No. 16 overall and No. 4 at his position on the 247Sports Composite, would greatly reduce management’s stress over potentially having to fill a position with someone lacking the proper qualifications.

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If Kessler does soon verbally commit — may not happen until fall after he first makes a return visit to Durham and a few other places — he would give the Duke basketball staff an even more ridiculous leg up on the competition on the 2020 recruiting trail.

The 7-foot, 235-pounder from College Park, Ga., who plays for Woodward Academy and looks a lot like former Duke basketball great Christian Laettner on the court and a lot like Grayson Allen from the neck up, would join two other five-stars as guaranteed fresh faces inside Cameron Indoor Stadium come the 2020-21 season.

Point guard Jeremy Roach, who on May 8 committed to joining #TheBrotherhood, and small forward Jalen Johnson, who followed suit on Thursday, represent the only two top-20 five-stars to have ended their recruitment by picking a school.

ALSO READ: Jalen Johnson admits package deal is possible

Signs say Kessler will soon be the first piece to prove that the announcements from Roach and Johnson were key to setting off a commitment spree in Duke’s favor.

For starters, the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Kessler is becoming clearer, with Duke now the overwhelming favorite — 70 percent — after renowned prognosticator Jerry Meyer entered his pick for the Blue Devils on Friday.

And the folks at Rivals appear to agree.

"“As for remaining targets, I think [Johnson’s commitment] will help with Duke’s pursuit of Walker Kessler,” Rivals analyst Dan McDonald wrote. “He’s mentioned multiple times that he’ll be paying attention to who he’ll play with and the type of players they are.“Duke now has two five-star prospects committed that both would feed him the ball. Johnson and Kessler in pick-and-pop would be pretty tough.”"

Another on the Rivals staff, Russ Wood, chimed in with a similar view:

"“I think Kessler would complement Johnson and Jeremy Roach sort of like a 2020 version of Christian Laettner.”"

A couple of weeks back, Kessler told 247Sports’ Evan Daniels he essentially has a final five in mind:

"“Right now, I think I got a top five or top six,” Kessler said. “It’s more of schools that I feel like are heavily recruiting me: Michigan, Gonzaga, Auburn, Duke, UNC, I think that’s it.”"

ALSO READ: 2020 center lists top five, plans a return visit to Durham

No doubt Kessler would be money for Duke from inside the paint with what can’t be taught: his size. And he’d be money from outside as well with what can’t be achieved without countless hours in the gym: his buttery stroke from deep.

Plus, he has the necessary coordination and natural instincts — even if he is lacking superior athleticism — to potentially have his way with ACC defenders.

The Blue Devils have had a run of good fortune as of late at landing Georgians. Duke’s 2017 class included four: Wendell Carter Jr., Alex O’Connell, Jordan Goldwire, and Jordan Tucker (who transferred out of Duke after one semester).

Four other primary 2020 targets for the Blue Devils — center Mark Williams, point forward Cade Cunningham, small forward Scottie Barnes, and shooting guard B.J. Boston — all won’t likely commit until after the start of the school year.

ALSO READ: Four reasons Duke still has a shot at Cade Cunningham

Williams has hinted at making his decision in the winter, Cunningham seems to be looking at early November or sooner, Barnes plans to hold off until next spring, and Boston — another Georgia native — has not been specific about a decision timeline.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting updates, analyses, opinions, and predictions.