The State of Duke Basketball: Coach K's Olympic Commitment

Throw in versatile forward Dominique Ferguson (currently being recruited but still without an offer) and center Josh Smith (has an offer) and you have eight highly touted prospects being recruited by the Blue Devils for a class that already has three commitments (Seth Curry will also be eligible in 2010).

Duke only has enough scholarships to add another three players to it's 2010 class (another would open up if Kyle Singler left after next season), so it's obvious that Krzyzewski isn't planning on all of his targets choosing Duke.

What Krzyzewski has are backup plans, and good ones.

For a coach who has been criticized recently for casting too small of a recruiting net, he couldn't cast a bigger one in 2010.

This change in recruiting is likely a response to losing out on so many targets in recent years, but it could be as much about foresight as it is about reaction.

With Duke's recruiting time being cut into by Team USA responsibilities (Duke's assistants also spend considerable time with the Olympic team), casting a wider net and offering more players could make up for less face time with recruits.

Furthermore, Duke is hosting a camp for elite high school players in August, inviting several of the Blue Devil's top prospects to the campus for some quality time with Coach K in Duke's state-of-the-art practice facility. 

Getting a large number of top recruits on campus at once is a recruiting dream, and the face time that Coach K will have with recruits at the camp will surely go toward making up for time overseas.

So while Duke fans may be justifiably concerned with Krzyzewski's moonlighting, it seems like he's as determined as ever on the recruiting front and willing to adjust his recruiting philosophies ensure the Blue Devils talent pool doesn't dry up while he's working with the NBA's best.

Combine Krzyzewski's revitalized and rebooted approach to recruiting with another Olympic gold medal (always good for PR), and the Blue Devils could be in for one of their best recruiting stretches in years.

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