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

Candidates to lead the next Duke basketball team in rebounds: Jalen Johnson

One reason Jalen Johnson should lead Duke in rebounds next season is the “feel” of a growth spurt coming on that he recently pointed out on social media. Another reason is the 6-foot-8, 220-pound small forward’s king-of-the-court demeanor, evident in his noticeable penchant for swooping into the lane at the last second to steal boards from bigger fellas.

Even though the Nicolet (Wis.) five-star may not start games at a post position, all the talents that make Johnson the highest-ranked incoming Blue Devil (No. 12) are sure to lead to a starting gig at the just-be-where-needed position. Therefore, the 18-year-old is the favorite to enjoy considerably more playing time than others on this list; 30-plus minutes per game is not out of the question. As a result, he should come down with the most rebounds.

Predicted rebounds per game for Jalen Johnson next season: 7.8

Finally, we should mention a darkhorse candidate — an honorable mention, of sorts — who proved to be a top-notch rebounder for his position as a freshman…