Duke basketball: Mike Krzyzewski knows how to pick and target recruits

Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski has quickly adapted to the new component of recruiting, the NBA G-League.

The top prospect in the Class of 2022, Emoni Bates, has committed to the Michigan State Spartans, but the five-star ultimately landing in East Lansing is still very much in question.

Despite an impromptu decision from the Ypsilanti, Michigan native, Bates still has many options including reclassifying to 2021 and going to Michigan State or entering the NBA G-League or having the same two options while remaining in the Class of 2022.

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Bates also could jump from high school to the NBA if the league and the Player’s Association agree to the concept in the next Collective Bargaining Agreement.

According to ESPN, the Duke Blue Devils did extend an offer to Emoni Bates, but 247 Sports did not list the Blue Devils as an offer or interest for the highest-rated five-star in recent memory.

The lack of interest from Mike Krzyzewski for one of the highest-rated recruits ever speaks volumes as he knows that there is a good chance that Bates opts for the professional route when the time comes.

Duke did not even reach out to Bates and his family when the recruiting period opened for the rising junior class in mid-June.

This also piggybacks off of the Blue Devils’ hot pursuit of Class of 2021 star Jonathan Kuminga, but after the five-star gave off signs of wanting to pursue a professional career in the fastest way possible, Duke quickly put its foot on the break and backed off Kuminga despite making his Top-6.

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The expectation is that Jonathan Kuminga will reclassify to 2020 and either play at Texas Tech or the G-League, as the pro option seems to be the current favorite.

To further the point that something seems strange about Duke not being involved at all with Emoni Bates, Mike Krzyzewski has offered the No. 1 recruit in the 247 Sports Composite Rankings every year dating back to 2013 (Andrew Wiggins), except in 2015 (Ben Simmons), 2016 (Josh Jackson, although Harry Giles was the overwhelming top prospect prior to his injury), and 2019 (James Wiseman).

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As recruits opting for the route of the NBA G-League has just become popular, one of the best recruiters in the nation, Mike Krzyzewski, already has his system down of who is a college player and who is not.

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