Amile Jefferson to Duke: Blue Devils Land Coveted Basketball Recruit

Elite prospect Amile Jefferson has committed to Duke for the 2012-13 season, according to Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports, which is a major boost for the Blue Devils' recruiting class.

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Duke just picked up Amile Jefferson.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanCBS) May 15, 2012

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With Tony Parker recently committing to UCLA, Jefferson was one of the few coveted high school basketball prospects who had yet to sign.

This is a massive addition to Duke's roster for next season, so let's break down what kind of impact Jefferson will have. 

What Jefferson brings to the team

Jefferson is a forward listed between 6'7'' and 6'9'' with tremendous athleticism and a polished offensive game. He excels in transition and makes smart decisions on the break.

While his jump shot is pretty consistent, it still needs work and Jefferson would be smart to extend his range out to the three-point line.

Small forwards in the NBA and even in college need to be able to knock down three-point shots consistently, and Jefferson would do well to add this skill even if he gets the majority of his minutes at power forward. 

Freshman impact

Jefferson will make a big offensive impact as a freshman and score at a productive rate. His athleticism will also allow him to get easy baskets on the fast break.

With the help of strong coaching at Duke, there's no reason why Jefferson can't greatly improve his skills and become a top pick in the 2013 NBA Draft if he decides to leave the Blue Devils after one year.

He does need to get stronger, however, as he doesn't have a lot of strength or size. This may not be an issue in college, but Jefferson will get dominated in the NBA unless he adds some more muscle to his lean frame. 

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