One incoming Duke basketball treasure is now an undisputed 1-on-1 champion.
In light of ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony pointing out in April that O’Dea (Wash.) power forward Paolo Banchero is now a 6-foot-11, 250-pound giant, more and more folks are saying the presumptive Duke basketball centerpiece is the actual No. 1 prospect in his class.
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Nevertheless, Banchero finished No. 3 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite, behind a future Gonzaga basketball center in No. 1 Chet Holmgren and a probable G League-bound guard in No. 2 Jaden Hardy.
Well, on Friday at the festivities leading up to Saturday’s 2021 Allen Iverson Roundball Classic in Memphis, Banchero added another nugget to his case for the top spot. He did so by displaying both offensive and defensive prowess — on the perimeter and down low — on his way to winning the 1-on-1 “King of the Court” competition after defeating foes of pretty much all sizes.
True, the 18-year-old Seattle native didn’t face the 7-foot Holmgren, yet the so-called “unicorn” was in the field:
Now, looking ahead to the main event, Banchero will have another opportunity to assert his deserved top billing over Holmgren since the two projected one-and-done lottery picks will be on opposite sides (Hardy is not on either roster).
How to watch three Duke basketball prizes in Iverson Classic
Currently, Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff boast four 2021 signees in Paolo Banchero, Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) small forward AJ Griffin, Paul VI (Va.) shooting guard Trevor Keels, and Blair (N.J.) point guard Jaylen Blakes.
Banchero, Griffin, and Keels — all McDonald’s All-Americans ranking among the top 20 in the class — are set to play in the Iverson Classic at 7 p.m. ET Saturday.
Banchero and Griffin are on Team Loyalty with ex-NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson as their coaches. Keels, meanwhile, is alongside Chet Holmgren on Team Honor under Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells.
SUVtv will provide a live stream of the action.