Predicting where each Duke basketball recruiting target will land
By Matt Giles
Predicted the landing spot for Duke basketball target Paolo Banchero
Five-star 2021 power forward Paolo Banchero
High School: O’Dea (Wash.)
Height and weight: 6-foot-9, 235 pounds
Composite ranking: No. 3 overall, No. 1 power forward, No. 1 in Washington
Scouting report (from draft analyst Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report): “[Banchero] is as well-rounded as they come for 17-year-old bigs — physically, fundamentally, and mentally. His strength, quickness, and agility immediately stand out under the NBA scouting scope. But it’s his expanding skill set that hints at a player who’s capable of flying toward the top of draft boards.”
Finalists (six): Arizona, Duke, Gonzaga, Kentucky, Tennessee, Washington
Recruitment chatter: The 247Sports Crystal Ball still favors Washington but gives Kentucky fans hope with two of the six picks. However, Banchero has recently repeated what he and Kennedy Chandler have talked about for about a year now: teaming up together in college. Therefore, it still seems like this package-deal tease could actually come to fruition. And, as pointed out here earlier, Tennessee has suddenly become the overwhelming favorite for Chandler (Banchero and Chandler took official visits to Rocky Top the same weekend last fall).
Decision timeline: Though it’s possible Banchero could pull the trigger on an announcement around the same time as Chandler, he has indicated a desire to wait until after his senior season comes to an end — i.e., next spring.
Prediction: TENNESSEE