Duke’s Gary Trent Jr. declares for NBA Draft
Duke freshman guard Gary Trent Jr. has
By MIKE McCURRY Duke turned the ball over
By MIKE McCURRY The Duke Blue Devils could
On the same day that Duke officially announced the signing of its three-man recruiting Class of 2017, Gary Trent Jr. went off for 36 points in a win at the Marshall County Hoop Fest in Paducah, Kentucky.
Playing against Kentucky-bound guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamilton Heights (TN), Trent Jr. had 36 on 14-of-28 shooting in a 72-62 win for Prolific Prep. He was named the game’s MVP.
“He works at his game,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “He wants to be an outstanding player. He wants to do the process that gets there.”
Gary Trent Jr., the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Prolific Prep (CA), committed to Duke over Michigan State and UCLA on Thursday on ESPNU.
“In the fall of 2017, I will be attending Duke University,” he said. “The thing about Duke University, the brotherhood behind it, Coach K, there’s so many things about it that are top-tier, there’s no way you could turn it down.
“Just from how the practices are run to how they play together. Everything about it was just top of the line and I just loved everything about it.”
Prolific Prep coach Billy McKnight said Trent Jr. is on track to be in the NBA soon.
“Gary gets a lot of credit for his scoring ability and for good reason,” he said. “He’s a fantastic shooter from deep and can score from all three levels. What’s really impressed me is his ability to read the floor and make the right play. His unselfishness and passing ability to create for others really stands out. His father (Gary Trent Sr) and previous coaches have done a great job of teaching him how to play.
Gary Trent Jr. is done with his official visits and says it’s “possible” he could commit during the early signing period beginning next week.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Prolific (CA) Prep has taken officials to Duke, Michigan State, and UCLA.
“We’ve got the early period coming up and it’s possible that I could decide by then, but I’m not sure,” he wrote in his USA Today blog. “We’ll have to see.”
Trent has been linked to 5-star big man Wendell Carter for a package deal. The only school both players have in common is Duke.
“I think both of us loved the visit!” he wrote.
