Duke Basketball Recruiting: Meet the Blue Devils' 2013 Class

The recruiting drama for the Duke Blue Devils ended early last season when they received commitments from three highly regarded high school players.

Mike Krzyzewski will be getting the services of Matt Jones, Semi Ojeleye and Jabari Parker in 2013, and all three are expected to be important parts of the team's future.

Ojeleye and Jones signed their letters of intent during the early-signing period back in November 2012, while the school is still awaiting Parker's letter, though his commitment remains strong.

Let's meet Duke's 2013 class.

Matt Jones, Guard

Hometown: DeSoto, Texas

High School: DeSoto High School

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 180 lbs

Rating: 4-star (Rivals)

High School Senior Season Stats: 15.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.7 steals

Strengths

Matt Jones is expected to be the latest in a string of outstanding perimeter shooters to play at Duke. He is regarded as one of the best shooters in the class of 2013. Jones also has ability to drive the ball to the basket and finish around the rim. If he continues to develop, his style of play will remind many of Ray Allen.

Weaknesses

As a guard, Jones will need to improve his ball-handling skills. He is coming into college with the reputation of being a deadly outside shooter, which means many teams will chase him off the three-point line and force him to put the ball on the floor. Improving his dribbling and slashing ability will make him a much more complete player.

Projected 2014 Role

Jones signed with Duke in November 2012 and knows he is joining a team that is loaded with wing players. He will have a difficult time cracking the regular rotation and will likely compete for minutes against another prolific outside shooter, Andre Dawkins. Aside from an injury situation, it's unlikely Jones will see many meaningful minutes.

Semi Ojeleye, Forward

Hometown: Ottawa, Kan.

High School: Ottawa High School

Height: 6'6"

Weight: 220 lbs

Rating: 4-star (Rivals)

High School Senior Season Stats: 38.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.4 assists

Strengths

Semi Ojeleye comes to Duke with a reputation as a scorer. He set the Kansas high school scoring record and averaged over 38 points per game while leading his team to an undefeated season this past year. His ability to score from anywhere on the floor will make him a dangerous weapon for Mike Krzyzewski.

Weakness

Kansas isn't known as a state that produces many elite high school basketball players, and there are questions as to whether or not Ojeleye will be prepared for the level of competition he will face in the ACC. He will also need to adjust to being on a team where he is not the primary scoring option.

Projected 2014 Role

Similar to Matt Jones, Ojeleye signed with Duke during the early-signing period and will face some stiff competition for playing time next season. However, with his size and length, he could earn a spot if he can emerge as a defensive specialist, similar to what Shane Battier did during his early seasons at Duke.

Jabari Parker, Forward

Hometown: Chicago, Ill.

High School: Simeon High School

Height: 6'8"

Weight: 215 lbs

Rating: 5-star (Rivals)

High School Senior Season Stats: 18.4 points, 10.4 rebounds

Strengths

Parker is the type of player who does everything well, but he's a winner above all else. He won every postseason game during his high school career, leading Simeon High School to four consecutive state championships. His winning instincts make him a perfect fit with Mike Krzyzewski.

Weaknesses

There aren't many weaknesses in his game, but Jabari Parker does need to work on improving his explosiveness and first step. He appears to be fully recovered from a broken foot he suffered last year and can now spend an entire offseason improving his quickness, which will make him even more dangerous when he arrives to Durham.

Projected 2014 Role

Parker will come to Duke as one of the most highly regarded recruits in the program's history. He has yet to sign his letter of intent, but there is no question about his commitment to being a Blue Devil.

He is expected to earn a starting spot next season and be one of the best players on the team. The Blue Devils will count on Parker as one of its primary playmakers, and fans are hopeful the freshman will thrive under the pressure.