Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Recruiting: Where will c/o 2018 five-star prospect Zion Williamson go to college?

By Blake Cockrum

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JANUARY 6: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels calls a play in the second half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 6, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Virginia defeated North Carolina 61-49. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - JANUARY 6: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels calls a play in the second half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on January 6, 2018 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Virginia defeated North Carolina 61-49. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 19: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils reacts in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 19: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils reacts in the first half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The case for Duke

Mike Krzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils have held the No. 1 recruiting rank in three of the last four seasons. The year that they didn’t, they were second only to Kentucky. And this year, they’ve got a shot at the same distinction.

It’s business as usual in Durham, where signing five-star prospects each season has simply become the norm. And while Krzyzewski has had tremendous success signing one-and-done players, it hasn’t necessarily equated to on-the-court success.

Make no mistake, he’s arguably the greatest basketball coach to ever live and has an exemplary record. But he’s taken the Blue Devils to just one Final Four since their 2010 national championship victory. That lone trip to the Final Four, though, did result in another title in 2015.

Outside of that, though, he’s reached the Elite 8 just once in six seasons. Twice his teams exited the tournament in the first round. He’s also failed to win the ACC’s regular season crown since 2010, finishing fifth each of the last two years.

However, when it comes to pumping out top shelf professional players, there’s little denying his eye for talent. In recent years, he’s put guys like Kyrie Irving, Austin Rivers, Brandon Ingram and Jayson Tatum in the NBA. Never mind players from his earlier years like Grant Hill, Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer, who have gone on to have tremendous NBA careers.

With a list that includes names like that, it doesn’t take much convincing for a young basketball prospect to realize what Coack K can do to help jump-start their professional career.

Career record: 1,087-331 (.766)
Record at Duke: 1,011-272 (.787)

Noteworthy NBA players that played under Krzyzewski:
Johnny Dawkins, Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Carlos Boozer, Shane Battier, J.J. Redick, Luol Deng, Gerald Henderson, Kyrie Irving, Austin Rivers, Jabari Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Justice Winslow, Brandon Ingram, Jayson Tatum, Luke Kennard

Home/UNC Basketball