Duke basketball confirms a big addition to the roster

Mike Krzyzewski’s last Duke basketball team now includes a second 7-footer.

Last week, Ball Durham determined from a “Happy Birthday to Mrs. K” video and Twitter speculators that 42nd-year Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski may have suddenly welcomed a freshman walk-on. Well, as of this weekend, the program has officially confirmed the news by putting Stanley Borden on the roster at GoDuke.com.

According to the update, the 7-foot, 240-pounder is the same height as the squad’s top sophomore breakout candidate, Mark Williams, and only two pounds lighter.

Borden, who attended Turkey’s Instanbul International Community School but was born in New York, won’t likely see much action this season. No, the sparse footage out there shows an 18-year-old who needs to work on his mobility, strength, and confidence before seriously vying for minutes as a Blue Devil.

That said, the extra dose of height on the roster should come in handy during practice. Plus, in the event injuries and extreme foul trouble pile up between Williams and a couple of scholarship power forwards, Borden’s presence could be a godsend.

The complete 2021-22 Duke basketball roster

Barring an unexpected last-minute addition of another walk-on, 14 players now appear in place for the Duke Blue Devils.

There are two graduate seniors:

• Power forward Theo John
• Power forward Bates Jones

One fourth-year senior:

• Small forward Joey Baker

Three juniors:

• Small forward Wendell Moore
• Power forward Keenan Worthington
• Point guard Michael Savarino

Three sophomores:

• Center Mark Williams
• Point guard Jeremy Roach
• Point guard Spencer Hubbard

And five rookies:

• Center Stanley Borden
• Power forward Paolo Banchero
• Small forward AJ Griffin
• Shooting guard Trevor Keels
• Point guard Jaylen Blakes

Five weeks remain until the Blue Devils begin their season on Nov. 9 against Kentucky at the Champions Classic in Madison Square Garden.