Duke basketball: Dream lineup for 2021-22 season
By Matt Giles
Ideal combo guard for 2021-22 Duke basketball team: DJ Steward
CG. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. DJ Steward. player. 434. 6-3, 175. Sophomore
Similar to Jeremy Roach, a second-year DJ Steward would have the potential to be nothing short of sensational. Unlike Roach’s position, however, there would appear at the moment to be a couple of other ideal and imaginable options at the two-spot for the Blue Devils come the 2021-22 season.
In other words, should Steward opt to enter the 2021 NBA Draft, another possible filler of the off-guard role could be a then-junior Wendell Moore, then-freshman Caleb Houstan, then-freshman Trevor Keels, or then-freshman Ousmane Dieng. Note, though, that none of those latter three have committed to Duke while Moore seems at this point roughly 60 percent likely to bolt after next season.
So of all the above names, Steward — whose 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame alone could unfairly keep him in NBA scouts’ dime-a-dozen category — is the safest bet to be a backcourt partner to Roach when the 2021-22 campaign tips off. Furthermore, the Chicagoan might be a greater offensive threat than Moore, Houstan, Keels, Dieng, or any other prospect that might pop up on the Blue Devil radar between now and then.
The combination of the 18-year-old’s top-notch slashing ability and smooth stroke from downtown is a recruiter’s dream. Therefore, picturing a seasoned-sophomore Steward, who will land in Durham with a No. 26 composite ranking, should provide even more goosebumps to Duke basketball followers when picturing him next to a seasoned-sophomore Roach in addition to these other three projected starters…