Clint’s Mailbag

Bull City Hoops recruiting director Clint Jackson took your questions via Twitter, email and our comments section over the last several days. Today he responds to some of them in his latest Clint’s Mailbag.

Question: In the 2023 class, with Caleb Foster already in the bag, it seems like the staff wants Mackenzie Mgbako too. Who else do you think they will really go after?

I love Gregory Jackson from Columbia, SC.

He’s able to play all over the court at 6-foot-9, but unlike a lot of strictly perimeter pretty boys, Jackson WILL be physical inside and he’s a beast on the glass. Sure, he can snatch a rebound off the defensive glass and lead the transition break. And he can shoot it a little from outside of the paint, but we absolutely love his no-holds barred owning of the post area.

He’s strong, assertive and has an alpha-dog presence down low. I not only love Jackson for his versatile and aggressive game, but he has a great last name, too.

Question: With two big guys on board for next year, Kyle Filipowski and Dereck Lively, do you think they’ll play well together or no?

Absolutely. They are completely different types of big men, too, and that’s why. Filipowski is more offensively gifted and diverse. He can put it on the floor and he’s going to be a guy who you can run a play for. He’ll score in the post or make a spin move in an isolated set.

Lively is more bouncy and he’s the guy that will catch a carom off of the backboard and flush it home. Lively is the better rim protector as well, so the Duke wings and guards will be able to overplay on defense since they know they’ve got a quick shot-blocker behind them. Both Lively and Filipowski can shoot from the outside, so that’ll help them play high-low when they need to. But yes, I think since their games are so different, they’ll complement each other superbly out there.

Dereck Lively official visit photo.

Question: Can you give us an idea of everything the recruits will do when they get to Duke for their visits? If I was lucky enough to visit Duke for a visit, what could I expect for the weekend?

If it’s an official visit, you can expect a very detailed, scheduled visit with your parents where everything is laid out with a printed agenda. Sometimes I know they tend to put up the family at the Washington Duke Inn and timelines are very specific. I have had a recruit snap a picture of his official visit plan and send it to me via text before, but I know that not all visits are set up exactly the same.

As for what you could expect, you can assure that you’ll be well fed and you’ll dine at some fine restaurants in the Durham area for sure. You will receive tours of the campus, the basketball facilities and you’ll meet a lot of important people. Many recruits generally get a lot of face time with the staff, the support staff, the current team and VIPs on the campus.

Usually, the basketball staff spends some time going over their plan with you, how they’d utilize you in their offense and show video of similarly skilled players from their past. You would also potentially have a meal and some bonding time with Mike Krzyzewski and his family at their home as well. And there are other variables on a visit, for instance, if there is a football game that weekend.

Official visits generally last 48 hours and your flights and transportation to hotels and airports are taken care of by the University. I know a lot of recruits are generally exhausted after an official visit and sleep a lot once they get back.

Question: If Duke does land both Mitchell and Starling is the 2022 class done? Or will Duke add a solid 3 star player like they did with Blakes?

I don’t think I could answer that right now with full certainty. I do think the plan is to bring in six in this class and as you know they have four commitments right now. If Duke were to get both Mark Mitchell as well as JJ Starling, they could, very well, be done. But if there is a transfer out of the program, that adds a variable for this answer. If someone leaves for the NBA earlier than anticipated, there’s another variable.

The thing is with programs like Duke, who has a reputation for getting pro prospects in and out quickly, there will always be things that change the plan. And the transfer portal is a beast now as well, so a college coach can always go get an experienced college player for a short term role.