New Duke basketball offer triggers reasonable concerns

The thought of the Duke basketball coaches snagging two coveted centers from one class is enticing, but the dual pursuit comes with risks.

As much as the 2020-21 Duke basketball roster is crying out for true big men, last week’s offer to DeMatha Catholic (Md.) center Hunter Dickinson, a 7-foot-2, 260-pound four-star, could wind up doing more harm than good.

First, though not likely, the offer could scare off IMG Academy (Fla.) center Mark Williams, a 7-foot-1, 225-pound four-star who at No. 29 on the 247Sports 2020 Composite sits five spots ahead of Dickinson.

Theoretically, ample minutes should be available in Durham for both. But the reality is most borderline five-stars these days expect to start from the moment their college careers start.

And though the Blue Devils could opt to start both — the twin towers would pose a literally giant threat to any opposing frontcourts — by doing so, the starting five would be slower than most. After all, joining the pair in such a lineup would surely be Duke’s top 2020 prize, small forward Jalen Johnson, a five-star whose No. 6 ranking has little to do with speed — except that his ranking might be higher if he had more of it.

Yes, Williams will likely end up joining #TheBrotherhood regardless — especially with Johnson being in his ear as his senior-year roommate and now that his best friend, four-star power forward and fellow Virginia native Henry Coleman, committed to Duke last week.

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Williams, a lengthy rim protector who is also a solid finisher but not much in terms of an explosive athlete, has scheduled an official visit to Duke for the first weekend of November and plans to announce his decision in time for the early signing period (Nov. 13-21).

Seven of currently eight Crystal Ball picks see Williams, the younger brother of former Duke women’s basketball great Elizabeth Williams, picking Duke over fellow finalists Stanford, UCLA, Ohio State, and Michigan.

Meanwhile, Dickinson, who has a similar behemoth frame to Duke basketball national champion Brian Zoubek but boasts a bit more mobility and overall skill, also intends to take a trip to Durham for the fifth allotted visit of his senior year. However, he has not yet set a date and expressed no rush in choosing a college.

Therefore, not only might a pledge from Williams prevent the same from Dickinson — the latter has mentioned a desire to be a program’s centerpiece down low — but the length of Dickinson’s recruitment could pose a problem.

See, Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his assistants, who visited the Dickinsons in their home on Sunday, could be spending more time pursuing the best fits from those post prospects who would likely be much more willing to accept the “backup” tag. A perfect example is center Dylan Cardwell, a 6-foot-10, 230-pound three-star who ranks No. 157 and drew some interest from the Blue Devils over the summer.

By the time an answer comes from Dickinson — his Crystal Ball only consists of three picks but currently favors Michigan — a guy like Cardwell, who brings to mind a less athletic version of Duke basketball senior captain Javin DeLaurier, could be off the table.

One way or another, Coach K and his team — owners of four of the nation’s past six No. 1 recruiting classes — will figure out a way to fill all of the 2020-21 roster needs. And maybe their methods will result in landing both Williams and Dickinson, with the expectation that both would embrace the competition for the starting gig and combine to anchor the paint for Duke for several seasons.

ALSO READ: Blue Devils closing in on frontcourt stability

The plan just seems risky, particularly when factoring in Duke being so late to the battle for Dickinson, who has already named his seven finalists: UNC, Michigan, Notre Dame, Florida State, Purdue, Providence, and Louisville.

Sure, UNC has already pulled off an even more impressive 2020 feat: five-star center Walker Kessler surprised experts by picking the Tar Heels over the Blue Devils on Sept. 22, joining five-star center Day’Ron Sharpe, despite a legit chance that current five-star freshman Armando Bacot will return as a sophomore.

But considering Coach K doesn’t seem to own the recipe to whatever punch Roy Williams must serve elite recruits to convince them to happily buy into warming the bench in Chapel Hill as freshmen, Duke may not be so lucky when it comes to selling Williams and Dickinson on sharing duties.

In addition to Johnson and Coleman, the list of 2020 Duke commits consists of five-star guards D.J. Steward and Jeremy Roach. Other than Williams and Dickinson, the only offer from the Blue Devils still out there is to five-star wing Ziaire Williams.

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