Duke basketball: Three signs Coach K ends up with No. 1 recruit

Why Duke basketball pledge Paolo Banchero deserves No. 1: PRO-LEVEL SIGN

No matter Paolo Banchero’s composite ranking, he’s on the right track for a successful NBA career, following what’s likely to be a prolific one-year layover under the tutelage of Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski. And as the budding star noted to Jake Weingarten of Stock Risers last week, he’s willing to compete against seasoned professionals while chasing his dream:

“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.”

Judging from the highlights below of one of those recent open runs, it’s quite clear that Banchero is able to hold his own while never for a second looking out of place.

Crawford, who is now 40 years old and has seen countless “can’t miss prospects” come and go across his 20 seasons in the NBA, has taken his fellow Seattle product under his wing. Per the veteran guard’s chat with Weingarten, he is more than pleased with both the advanced baller and mature person Banchero has become:

“If I was a GM, he would be a top pick. He’s a can’t miss prospect. He’s so versatile, very cerebral with how he approaches the game. Very unselfish, plays hard, always working at the game … Then when you factor in all the off-court attributes, maturity for his age, work ethic, caring about his community, his parents have done an unbelievable job … He’s a little brother to me.”

Whether it happens or not, Crawford’s “little brother” — undoubtedly a coming Duke basketball headline attraction — now warrants a No. 1 ranking. Evidently, Banchero himself agrees, as he basically proclaimed to Weingarten that his peers should just be fighting for No. 2:

“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.”

Yup, Banchero is the 2021 lion king.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more on Paolo Banchero plus other Duke basketball recruiting news and views.