Talented teammates could bolster Grayson Allen’s draft stock
By Chris Stone
Coming off a national title in 2015 behind one-and-done talents including Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, and Tyus Jones, the Duke Blue Devils were likely to experience a letdown during the 2015-16 season.
Indeed, despite featuring the number two overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Brandon Ingram alongside Final Four breakout star Grayson Allen, Duke stumbled its way to a 23-10 record during the regular season and a four seed in the NCAA Tournament where the Blue Devils ultimately fell to Oregon in the Sweet Sixteen.
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Now, though, head coach Mike Krzyzewski has restocked the cupboards for 2016-17 by securing one of the top recruiting classes of his career. Duke’s 2016 class is highlighted by four five-star prospects who are ranked among the top 15 high school seniors in the country, according to 247 Sports. Harry Giles is an 18-year-old, athletic power forward with the size and quickness to be a potential defensive anchor, 6-8 Jayson Tatum is a dangerous shot creator from the wing spot, Frank Jackson is a combo guard with freaky athleticism, and Marques Bolden has the physical tools to be a strong rim protector in the paint. It’s that collection of young talent combined with the surprising return of Allen that could propel the Blue Devils to their second national title in three years.
It may also help the 20-year-old Allen, who decided to forgo leaving school after his sophomore season to improve his draft stock. Allen is currently projected to be the 25th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, according to the DraftExpress; a position not much higher than his peak in 2016. This season, Allen will have the potential to flash an expanded array of skills, playing alongside one of the most talented young cores in the nation.
Last year, Duke’s offensive scheme was heavily focused on the ability of both Allen and Ingram to create in isolation. According to Synergy, 11.1 percent of Duke’s offensive possessions were isolation plays, the 13th highest rate in the country. The two stars unsurprisingly featured prominently, using 26.1 percent and 24.7 percent of the Blue Devils’ offensive possessions, respectively, while only 48.8 percent of Duke’s made field goals were assisted, the 252nd highest mark in Division I.
Still, it was Allen who led the team in assist rate (19.4 percent) and assists per 40 minutes (3.9) despite also being its most frequently used player. With a better roster around him, the rising junior will no longer be required to shoulder such a heavy offensive burden and should have plenty of opportunities to showcase improved distribution playing as a sort of combo guard in Coach K’s offense.
Versatility is the name of the game in the modern NBA and while Allen projects as a shooting guard in the vein of Buddy Hield or Jamal Murray at the next level, his ability to create offense and potentially play a few minutes each night as a backup point guard could make him a more attractive NBA prospect. The good news is that he’ll have the help of one of the best recruiting classes in Duke history to assist him in doing just that.