Duke basketball: Top five candidates to lead Blue Devils in rebounds

The title as the top Duke basketball rebounder next season is up for grabs.

Some rebounds finalize a defensive stand, sometimes leading to transition opportunities. Offensive ones provide extra chances at avoiding empty-handed possessions, often resulting in momentum-snatching putbacks, 3-point daggers, or Dean Dome heroics. But folks ought to respect the magical powers of boards by noting that the three Duke basketball national champs this century all finished among the top six of all Division I teams in this department.

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Specifically, respect the hands, instincts, positioning, hops, and physicality of those who have led the Blue Devils on the glass. With respect to the future, though, let’s examine Duke’s chances at putting up lofty rebounding totals next season by looking at the players who possess the necessary tools to potentially pace the bunch in this stat.

Unlike this time last year, when freshman behemoth Vernon Carey Jr. was clearly in line to sit atop the rebounding throne in Durham for his one-and-done stay, the No. 1 contender for the 2020-21 Blue Devils is not so obvious. That said, let’s rank the five candidates anyway, with the understanding that any of them could earn the crown. We begin at No. 5 and will work our way to the predicted top board producer (then name a darkhorse candidate at the end)…