Duke basketball roster: Starting lineup options for 2020-2021 season

2 of 4

Cassius Stanley #2 of the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Best-case scenario

Point Guard: Jeremy Roach
Shooting Guard: Cassius Stanley
Small Forward: Jalen Johnson
Power Forward: Matthew Hurt
Center: Vernon Carey Jr.

If we’re talking optimistic, pie-in-the-sky best-case scenarios for Duke, it has to involve Vernon Carey staying in school. Carey had a strong freshman year at Duke but it wasn’t Williamson-esque, meaning he isn’t projected to be a lottery pick.

Most scouting reports are projecting Carey as a late first-rounder, which is good because he would get a guaranteed contract, but Carey could stand to increase his earning potential by playing his way into the lottery with another year at Duke. The fact Carey didn’t get to play in the NCAA Tournament could also hold some appeal.

The rest of the best-case scenario means that the only departing players are Tre Jones, graduating seniors like Javin DeLaurier, Justin Robinson and Jack White and transferring junior Alex O’Connell. Duke’s entire freshman class from this season would be back for another run at March glory.

There would also be two new players in the starting lineup in this scenario, freshman point guard Jeremy Roach and small forward Jalen Johnson. This edition of the Blue Devils would be an elite team with significant experience, giving Coach K a tremendous shot at a national championship.