Duke basketball: Projected starters for Coach K’s farewell season
By Matt Giles
Projected Duke basketball starter: Paolo Banchero
Scouting Report. Paolo Banchero. 4. player. Pick Analysis. Freshman. Forward. 434
Have no fear. Make no mistake. Vote for Paolo. Whichever way you decide to word it, the underlying message is quite simple: Paolo Banchero is “the chosen one” for the 2021-22 Duke basketball team.
At No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite, Banchero is the highest-ranked recruit to arrive in Durham since RJ Barrett in 2018. Also, he’ll be the highest-ranked power forward since Marvin Bagley III came to town in 2017.
Needless to say, Banchero also comes across as worthy of his lofty status. After all, given the growth to what is now his NBA-ready game — not to mention his reported growth spurt into a 6-foot-10, 250-pound rugged specimen — there’s an argument to be made that he should’ve held the top spot among his peers over Gonzaga’s 7-foot, 190-pound slim jim, Chet Holmgren.
At the same time, it’s completely understandable for fans to be a bit hesitant about gushing over a rookie-to-be after watching last season’s top Duke freshman, Jalen Johnson, bail on the eventual 13-11 squad in February with six games to go in the regular season.
In fairness, though, we should judge Paolo Banchero by what Paolo Banchero does with his time as a Blue Devil.
Actually, just go ahead and believe in Banchero.