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Duke upset in NCAA Tournament: Who’s going to the NBA Draft?

By Chris Stone

Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) reacts after a shot during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) reacts after a shot during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Duke lost, so what will their players do next?

The Duke Blue Devils started the season as the preseason No. 1 team in the country and national title favorite. The ranking was understandable. The Blue Devils’ roster was loaded with talent, including a bevy of five-star recruits and a few experienced talents. On Sunday night, though, Duke’s season was cut short. The Blue Devils were upset in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by the South Carolina Gamecocks. Now, the question becomes what will happen with all the talent?

Let’s run through all of the potential early entrants for the NBA Draft and where they might land should they leave.

RELATED: Updated 2017 NCAA Tournament Bracket

  • Grayson Allen, junior – Allen was a potential first round pick last season and could sneak into the back end of it should he opt to leave this season, but he also surprise many by coming back to school. Allen projects to be an off-ball shooter in the NBA, which is valuable, but his lack of individual creation could hold him back from being more than a spark plug off the bench.
  • Luke Kennard, sophomore – Kennard exploded onto the scene this season after a below average freshman campaign. The sophomore can fill it up from all three levels and has a crafty offensive game that makes up for his lack of athleticism. Given that he seems likely to be a first round pick — potentially in the top 20 — Kennard will probably at least test the waters.
  • Jayson Tatum, freshman – Duke fans hopefully enjoyed Tatum while he was in Durham. The freshman wing is a surefire top 10 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, which means it’s a near certainty that he’ll leave school after just one season. Tatum’s ability to create from the wing is a highly prized skill among NBA franchises.
  • Harry Giles, freshman – Giles might be the most difficult prospect to place in terms of where he’d land if he entered the draft. As the top-rated recruit coming out of high school, the talent is there, but injuries hampered him all season. Giles will almost certainly test the waters and given the risks he would face coming back, it probably makes sense for him to leave now.
  • Frank Jackson, freshman – The freshman guard has impressed with his potential as a scorer, but as someone who will likely spend his NBA career playing point guard, there’s more to be developed with regards to his distribution. Jackson seems likely to return to school even if he tests the waters.
  • Marques Bolden, freshman – Bolden is another one that’s difficult to peg because he was a five-star recruit, but barely saw the floor for the Blue Devils. Players of his ilk are slowly trending out of style in the NBA as only one big can really be on the floor these days. Bolden may declare simply to avoid his draft stock slipping any lower.
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