Three most important Duke basketball players for 2020-2021 success

Three key 2020-21 Duke basketball players: Wendell Moore

From 1986 to 1990, Coach K led Duke to the Final Four every year except 1987. Plus, 1986 and 1990 saw them get to the title game, and Duke seemed destined to be the proverbial bridesmaid at the wedding.

But something happened in the fall of 1990 — something that would turn the Blue Devils from sad silver medalists to juggernauts, almost instantly.

That something was in fact someone, and that someone’s name is Grant Hill. The 6-foot-8 small forward walked in with jaw-dropping handles and an unworldly athletic ability.

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Opposing guards were jumped over, and opposing forwards were ran by or crossed up. He shut Stacey Augmon down in the 1991 Final Four battle against the UNLV Runnin Rebels and gave Kansas a front-row seat to what zero-gravity looks like in the following title game.

During his time at Duke, Hill remained a matchup nightmare and developed his game to a complete level. He was the most important piece added to the early ’90s powerhouse, and he just so happens to have a very similar build and game to a current member of the Blue Devils.

Wendell Moore flashed pieces of brilliance during the season last year. We will always remember him crashing the boards to put back the Tre Jones jumper in the glorious come-from-behind victory in Chapel Hill.

He showed he can be a second point guard on the floor with his silky smooth handles, and he seemed to have a knack for passing and rebounding (did you see the win at Carolina?). Moore also shows an aptitude for defense with a great motor and long arms that closed driving lanes all year.

Aside from Grant Hill, you the Duke fan can look to recent champion Justise Winslow for an example of what a super-athletic wing can do for a team on both sides of the floor. Wendell Moore has every opportunity to become that ball-handling small forward who gives opposing coaches fits.

He has a lot of work to do to get to Grant Hill-level greatness, but he seems to be a hard-working kid who is more than willing to put the time in. Hill developed a beautiful jumper during his time, and if Moore Jr can add some touch to his shot, he will be a serious problem for the rest of the ACC.

And as we know, serious problems for the ACC are the best kind of problems for your Duke Blue Devils.

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