The projected Duke basketball starting five for next season

• BEST FEATURES: ballhandling, facilitating, decision-making, instincts, composure, maturity, early commitment to Duke
• QUESTION MARKS: 3-point shooting, inexperience, past injury

Paul VI Catholic (Va.) five-star point guard Jeremy Roach knows the size of the shoes he signed up to fill next season. After all, when he kickstarted the 2020 Duke basketball recruiting class almost a year ago, his commitment came with the understanding that he’d be in line to take over for Tre Jones, who earned All-American honors as a sophomore and then announced last week his decision to turn pro.

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In many ways, Roach — who answered most of the concerns that stemmed from his 2018 torn ACL by stringing together a successful senior prep campaign — appears to operate in a similar fashion to Jones. He’s a pass-first floor general with reasonable quickness for the position. The sturdy McDonald’s All-American carries himself in a suave manner: relaxed facial expressions yet highly effective, assertive maneuvers.

Plus, the No. 21 overall prospect on the 247Sports 2020 Composite will begin his Blue Devil playing days with arguably a less jagged stroke from deep than his predecessor (though the successor is far from a lights-out net-whipper himself).

And if Roach does happen to falter early on in what is one of the most pressure-filled roles across all college sports — THE Duke basketball starting point guard — head coach Mike Krzyzewski can always call on the ever-improving seasoned vet who regularly started alongside Jones this past season…

Roach’s primary backup: JORDAN GOLDWIRE

Now, let’s move on to Roach’s fellow backcourt starter…