Comparing Duke basketball freshman class to Michigan’s Fab Five

SHOOTING GUARD: Duke basketball’s DJ Steward vs. Michigan’s Jimmy King

Jimmy King was the ninth-ranked recruit nationally coming out of Plano East High School in Texas. During his senior season at East, the 6-foot-5 two-guard led his squad to the state championship game. King was then selected to the All-American team and was subsequently invited to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game. As a freshman under Fisher at Michigan, King averaged just under 10 points per game.

DJ Steward out of Whitney Young High School in Chicago is the 26th-ranked recruit nationally and the fifth-ranked combo guard. In Steward, the Blue Devils landed one of the best scoring guards in the country. The 6-foot-3 Steward, in addition to having a most impressive shooting touch, can also handle the ball and distribute extremely well. During the summer Nike circuit of 2019, the five-star averaged 24.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game.

As King complemented Rose with his ability to score from outside as well as take defenders off the dribble, Steward will likely ease the defensive pressure on Roach. Guarding both Roach and Steward in the Duke basketball backcourt could provide a challenge for which no opposition can game plan.

EDGE: Duke’s DJ Steward