No. 2 – Duke
2020 frontcourt: Matthew Hurt (So.), Wendell Moore (So.), Joey Baker (Jr.), Jalen Johnson (Fr.), Jaemyn Brakefield (Fr.), Henry Coleman (Fr.), Mark Williams (Fr.), Patrick Tape’
Stop me if you’ve heard this before… Duke is loaded.
We say it each and every year as five-star recruits replace five-star recruits and it’s why Coach K has the Blue Devils in a place to win National Championship annually.
Well, guess what? Surprise, surprise, the narrative is the same heading into the 2020-21 season as Coach K will welcome the nation’s third best-recruiting class which features multiple highly ranked four and five-star recruits in the frontcourt.
What makes this particular team even more dangerous is that there are multiple returnees who were once thought to be “one-and-done” players, giving the Blue Devils experience to go with potential.
Let’s start with the incoming group. Out of seven total signees in 2020, five of them play in the frontcourt, headlined by versatile five-star wing Jalen Johnson as well as combo forward Jaemyn Brakefield (who we are all way too familar with), and more traditional big men Henry Coleman, Mark Williams, and Columbia graduate transfer, Patrick Tape.
They’ll pair with returnees Matthew Hurt, a former top-10 recruit, and Wendell Moore, who likely would’ve declared if not missing a good chunk of the season with injury last year. Traditionally Duke has had players around who weren’t quite ready for the pros but were able to make big steps in their second and third seasons. That’s exactly what Duke will look for from Hurt and Moore, who provide them with a ton of scoring potential, both inside and out, as well as athleticism, defense, and more. Also back will be Joey Baker, a former four-star recruit himself, who hasn’t been able to consistently crack the rotation. (Fun fact, he’s also extremely scared of Darius Perry).
Coach K will have an endless number of lineups available to him and none of them will lack talent, scoring, size, and production. Duke will be scary once again.
No. 1 – North Carolina
2020 frontcourt: Garrison Brooks (Sr.), Armando Bacot (So.), Walker Kessler (Fr.), Day’Ron Sharpe (Fr.), Puff Johnson (Fr.), Sterling Manley (Jr.)
Started from the bottom now we here?
North Carolina has the ultimate opportunity for redemption in 2020-21 after Roy Williams’ squad laid its biggest egg in decades last year.
Riddled with injury issues and an erosion of team chemistry, the Tar Heels really took their lumps last season, but things are going to really turn the corner this year.
It starts with veteran Garrison Brooks, who has All-ACC potential and could be a contender even for ACC Player of the Year. He should be joined in the starting lineup once again by Armando Bacot, who was a highly sought after recruit who will benefit from an off-season of development and potentially become a lottery pick type of big man in 2020-21 after nearly averaging a double-double.
The main difference this season is going to be talented depth for the Tar Heels. Walker Kessler could be the best big man in the 2020 class, and after shocking a lot of people and choosing UNC over Duke, the 7-foot big man could earn the starting spot over Bacot. If Kessler and Bacot aren’t the guys down low, perhaps it’s Day’Ron Sharpe, who was also a consensus top-five big men in this class. Regardless of who starts, however, Sharpe, Kessler, and Bacot become easily the best frontcourt trio in the country this season. As if that wasn’t enough, they’ll also return Sterling Manley, who missed all of last year with an injury, following two bright seasons.
Behind Brooks, Donovan “Puff” Johnson is the dark horse in this class. The younger brother of former UNC and Pitt star Cam Johnson, he is a future star in the making.
North Carolina once again is loaded, folks.