Amile Jefferson: Duke Is Most Logical Choice for Top Recruit

It's anybody's guess as to when Amile Jefferson is finally going to announce his decision, but there's only one logical destination for his talents.

He should head to Durham, North Carolina to play for the Duke Blue Devils.

The key word here is "logical." If we were to start discussing the best fit for Jefferson's talents, the truth of the matter is that Duke would not be at the top of the list. 

Of the five schools Jefferson is considering (see Rivals.com), Kentucky would be the best fit for Jefferson's game. John Calipari loves athletic, lengthy players who can get up and down the court and play in a fast-paced system. The 6'7" Jefferson would fit right in on the Wildcats.

The problem with going to Kentucky is that Kentucky's recruiting class is already pretty full. As per usual, Calipari has been very active on the recruiting trail, and he already has a top recruiting class stocked with talented players. If Jefferson were to go to Lexington, he would have no guarantee of playing time, much less a starring role.

Jefferson's talents would also play well at NC State, but the Wolfpack are in the same boat as Kentucky. Mark Gottfried has an excellent recruiting class lined up already, and there's not much room for Jefferson now that C.J. Leslie is returning for his junior season.

Unlike at Kentucky and NC State, there is a starring role for Jefferson to play at Duke. He could start right away in the frontcourt alongside Ryan Kelly and Mason Plumlee, and he would be able to play to his strengths next to them.

Just as important, going to Duke would give Jefferson an opportunity to play with fellow recruit Rasheed Sulaimon, who has already committed to Duke. He and Jefferson are good friends, and they could have a lot of fun out on the court together.

Jefferson would have to make some adjustments to his game if he were to go to Duke. He gets to the basket just fine and he plays with a lot of energy, but he's going to have to develop a more consistent jumper in order to truly fit in with what Mike Krzyzewski likes to do. When you play for Duke, you need to be able to do more than just dunk.

Jefferson should be more than willing to hone his game under Coach K, as a more complete game can only help his NBA prospects down the road. If he decides that he wants to be a one-and-done player, he could follow in the same footsteps as Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers. Duke apparently doesn't have a problem with its players leaving after one year.

Regardless of how long he chooses to stay, Jefferson would have a chance at contending for a championship at Duke. The Blue Devils are not the dominant force in the ACC at present, but they are still very much a major contender within the conference.

It's Jefferson's decision to make, and he really can't lose with any of his final options. But if he wants to maximize his potential, he should head to Duke.