Recruiting Roundup
Bull City Hoops updates readers on recent developments with GG Jackson, Matas Buzelis and Taylor Bol Bowen.
COVID-19 may have been problem for the Duke basketball team of late, but that certainly hasn’t stopped Jon Scheyer and the staff from getting out and evaluating some future stars.
The coaches made a short drive over to Raleigh last week to see (and more importantly be seen by) some of their top junior targets playing in the John Wall Invitational.
And while the Bull City Hoops staff was on the media list for the annual event in Raleigh, we were not able to attend due to exposures of our own with this pandemic. But we did stay on the pulse of the recruits in attendance.
We spoke with fellow Duke media member Wayne Gooch of Blue Devils Reign, who sat courtside for Matas Buzelis and Taylor Bol Bowen of Brewster Academy.
We got his impressions of Buzelis first, a 6-foot-10 forward with guard skills.
“He will be used much like (Michael) Dunleavy, except not as good a shooter. He is a good passer and for 6-10 he has a good handle,” he said. “(He) does not like to play inside at all.”
The description of Buzelis matches his reputation as a perimeter oriented prospect, who can extend over and around smaller defenders. And physically, he does resemble the former Duke star.
Buzelis also made an impact as a help-side defender and had several blocked shots as well.
Bol Bowen, on the other hand, is highly regarded for his defensive versatility and upside.
“Bol Bowen is a good athlete, great motor, very unselfish,” Gooch noted from his courtside seat. “He’s a good passer and I got to see his outside shot yesterday and it was good from the catch and shoot position.”
Both prospects were seen by Scheyer on Tuesday as one of the head coach-in-waiting’s documented evaluations.
JACKSON DEVELOPMENTS
In other news, elite five-star forward GG Jackson has finally scheduled his official visit to Duke. The 6-foot-9 prep star from Columbia, S.C., has not officially released a college list but from speaking with his father, Bishop, they are in frequent contact with North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgetown, Auburn and Virginia, as well as the Blue Devils.
Most informed recruiting reporters feel like the Tar Heels, Gamecocks and Blue Devils are the main three contenders for the versatile Jackson. And the Tar Heels may be the team to beat.
Jackson’s official visit is set for January 21. He and his family will spend 48 hours on the Duke campus.
Give my regards to Wayne :)