It’s an exciting time to be a Duke Blue Devils fan. Zion Williamson, R.J. Barret, and Cameron Redish are already turning heads and could be three of the first five picks in the 2019 NBA Draft, which would be the first time in NBA history.
College teammates have been taken in the top five of the NBA Draft 14 times.
If R.J. Barrett, Cameron Reddish, and Zion Williamson all go top five, it'd be the first time ever three players were drafted from the same program that high.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) August 20, 2018
Standing at 6-foot-7and weighing 285 pounds, Williamson is an athletic freak of nature. Touted to play either the power forward or small forward positon, the 18-year-old is perhaps the most exciting of the trio. Known for his unfathomable athleticism displayed by electrifying dunks, there is little doubt Williamson will be taken in the top five if he declares next summer.
The next prospect is Canadian-born R.J. Barrett, who, like Williamson, is listed at 6-foot-7. The small forward is also long, athletic, and possesses a graceful finesse to his game which differs to Williamson. The 18-year-old is a more natural scorer and, much like Williamson, will no doubt be selected within the top five next summer if he chooses to enter the draft.
Finally, there’s the other small forward prospect Cameron Redish. Redish has had the least media attention of the three players, however his upside and promise is undeniable. He stands at 6-foot-8 and was ranked as the third best recruit in 2018 by ESPN.
As you can see, there is a very good chance we will witness NBA history next summer. With the Blue Devils heavy favorites to take home the National Championship next season, the trio may end their college career on top and start their journey to the NBA together.
Duke is one of the most respected and well-run college programs in the entire United States. Head coach MikeKrzyzewski remains of premier coaches in all of basketball and don’t be surprised if he’s the first coach to ever produce three top five selections in the NBA lottery next summer.
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