By ADAM ZAGORIA
After announcing his retirement following the 2021-22 season, legendary Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski won’t need to be out recruiting this summer, but it will be interesting to see if he shows up at Peach Jam or any other live period events.
His presence could help Jon Scheyer, his successor in waiting, recruit for the Classes of 2022 and ’23.
“He will help,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said.
Duke is focusing on several Class of 2022 prospects, including Jalen Duren and Dereck Lively of Team Final, Dariq Whitehead of Team Durant and Kyle Filipowski of the NY Rens. The 7-foot-1 Lively has scheduled a visit to Durham on June 29.
Coach K said Thursday at his press conference that part of the reason Duke is announcing Scheyer as the successor now is to make things “transparent” for recruits. He also said part of the reason he announced his plans now is because “it’s not fair to the kids you’re recruiting” for him to recruit for future classes.
Scheyer is expected to handle Zoom calls this summer for recruits, sources said.
“It’s incredibly important, especially with the start of recruiting, recruiting’s going on starting now, where there’s complete transparency and clarity into the future for this year and after,” Coach K said at his press conference.
“I was fortunate enough to go to West Point and be in the service, and in the service you are constantly looking at succession. Whenever you go to a unit, you’re taking over for somebody and that person helps you. Continuity is what it’s called and continuity of excellence….and so looking at this really the implementation of the decision has a lot to do with succession and a greater chance for continuity. If you do not have anybody that can take command, you’re in trouble. We do. We do, and so that was one of the things I was concerned about. I don’t want everything to end when I stop coaching, I want it to continue.”
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