Marques Bolden's commitment adds to Duke's embarrassment of riches

Duke won the latest battle in its recruiting war with Kentucky on Thursday when the top unsigned prospect in the Class of 2016 chose the Blue Devils over the Wildcats.

Marques Bolden, a 6-foot-11 center ranked No. 11 in the 2016 Rivals rankings, made his announcement on Thursday afternoon at DeSoto High School, unzipping a black jacket to reveal a Duke T-shirt underneath.

The addition of Bolden bolsters a Duke team that likely would have been next year's preseason No. 1 team even if he had gone elsewhere. The Blue Devils return four of their top seven players from last year's Sweet 16 team, get senior forward Amile Jefferson back from injury and add a recruiting class widely considered to be the best in the nation.

A long, mobile post player who runs the floor well, protects the rim and scores effectively with his back to the basket, Bolden averaged 23.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks this past season and led DeSoto High to a state title. The McDonald's All-American received scholarship offers from the likes of Alabama, Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma and TCU before narrowing his options this spring and ultimately selecting the Blue Devils.

How loaded is Duke next season? Bolden will likely come off the bench next season.

His presence will allow Duke to bring along fellow elite freshman Harry Giles slowly as he recovers from the torn ACL that sidelined him his entire senior season. Mike Krzyzewski can either start Bolden alongside Jefferson at the start of the season or use him as a third big man if Giles is ready for heavy playing time right away.

Between that frontcourt and a perimeter corps that will include returners Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard and Matt Jones and elite freshmen Frank Jackson and Jayson Tatum, Duke has the most talent of any team in the nation next season. They'll be loaded with talent and depth at every position except for point guard, where Jackson will be given every chance to start after Derryck Thornton's decision to transfer earlier this spring.

 

PG: Frank Jackson
SG: Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard
SF: Jayson Tatum, Matt Jones
PF: Harry Giles, Chase Jeter
C: Amile Jefferson, Marques Bolden

 

Kentucky will still be one of the few programs capable of challenging Duke nationally even if the loss of Bolden will sting. The Wildcats will add five Top 25 freshmen to a roster that will definitely include forward Derek Willis and could also feature guard Isaiah Briscoe and forward Marcus Lee if both opt to return to school instead of staying in the draft.

But potent as that Kentucky roster is, Duke's appears to be better on paper.

The Blue Devils were already college basketball's 2016-17 title favorites before landing Bolden. Now they're just a little bit stronger.