Duke basketball pledge addresses one recent rumor

Paolo Banchero does not intend on joining the 2020-21 Duke basketball team.

The spark to the rumor was likely a late-September tweet from the prospect himself. Understandably, some Duke basketball fans wanted to view the seemingly cryptic message from O’Dea (Wash.) power forward Paolo Banchero as a hint that the pledge could graduate high school at the end of this semester and then become a member of the 2020-21 Blue Devils in January:

“I’m trying to get to Durham already!!!”

Also, toward the beginning of Banchero’s junior year, the 6-foot-9, 235-pound bruiser had suggested a reclass was a possibility. Yet the five-star, who ranks No. 3 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite, later shot down such talk on several occasions.

And then this week, Banchero confirmed to Jake Weingarten of Stock Risers that his arrival in Durham won’t happen before next summer. Rather, his focus is on his own upcoming season, with the hope there is one:

“My goals if there is a season are to win a state championship. No, I will not be enrolling early.”

Perhaps it’s best that way for Banchero. After all, as the 17-year-old explained to Weingarten, the trajectory of his game has been trending upward in his present setting as he regularly works out with NBA talents:

“I’m still participating in open runs two-three times a week with Jamal Crawford, Marquese Chriss, Isaiah Thomas, Zach LaVine, Aaron Brooks, Spencer Hawes, Naz Carter, etc. And over the summer was much of the same, so it’s been good.”

Banchero highlighted to Weingarten the areas he’s improved on the most as of late:

“I’m more fluid, quick, and athletic than I’ve ever been. And on top of that, I’ve really sharpened my 3-point shot, which needed improvement along with my ball handling. I’ve really been focusing on those two things and have made great improvements with both.”

Another rumor Banchero squashed during his chat with Weingarten is that he’s noticeably upset over not being No. 1 in his class. That said, he won’t disagree with anyone who claims that is indeed the ranking he deserves:

“I don’t think that I’ve really been vocal. I respect people’s opinions. But I believe I’m the best player in the country because of the simple fact that nobody brings what I bring to the table when it comes to versatility, winning, IQ, and having an all-around game.”

So will the 2021 Duke basketball class contain the nation’s top recruit?

The actual composite No. 1 at the moment just so happens to be the No. 1 Duke basketball target at the moment in Hamilton (Wis.) five-star small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr., who lost a head-to-head AAU battle with Banchero in September.

Coupling Banchero’s blossoming game with the fact that Baldwin Jr.’s 247Sports Crystal Ball shows the 6-foot-10, 205-pound sharpshooter eventually winding up with the Blue Devils, it’s safe to say the 2021-22 Duke basketball roster has a better shot than any roster elsewhere to boast a former No. 1 prep.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his gang have also already landed another 2021 five-star in Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) small forward AJ Griffin, who ranks No. 6. Plus, they are waiting on decisions from two other five-star targets: Paul VI (Va.) shooting guard Trevor Keels, who ranks No. 16, and IMG (Fla.) center Charles Bediako, who ranks No. 23.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting news and views.