Duke lands second elite 2021 prospect in Paolo Banchero | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / November 8.
  • Duke lands second elite 2021 prospect in Paolo Banchero

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    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    Paolo Banchero, the 6-foot-10 Class of 2021 forward from O’Dea (WA) and Seattle Rotary, announced Thursday he has committed to Duke.

    Banchero also considered Kentucky, Gonzaga, Tennessee, Arizona and Washington.

    Banchero won MVP honors at the NBA Top 100 Camp in June and has proven himself to be one of the most skilled and versatile forwards in the country, regardless of class.

    He lists Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons, and Blake Griffin as pros whom he emulates. “I’m kind a stretch, do-it-all ‘4’, and I can play the ‘3’ too,” Banchero said of his unique game.

    “I can kind of do whatever, play on the wing or play inside, but if it was up to me I would prefer kind of in the midrange, 16-17 feet out, and just kind of operate from there.”

    Banchero joins Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) forward A.J. Griffin in Duke’s 2021 recruiting class, now ranked No. 10 by 247Sports.com.

    Both Griffin and Panchero are projected top-5 picks in the 2022 NBA Draft, per at least one site. Patrick Baldwin, the projected No. 6 pick in 2022 per the same site, is also considered a Duke lean.

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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