Duke Basketball: What Each Projected 2015-16 Starter Brings to the Table

Duke's run to the national title this past season was as heavily dependent on its starting five as any championship team in recent memory. The Blue Devils' bench was very thin and provided only minimal contributions in most games, leaving much of the work to the starters.

The title defense in 2015-16 might not be as starter-heavy, but the five players who begin each game on the court will still have the most responsibility. And thankfully, each member of that projected quintet brings something unique to the table.

It might not be his best attribute, but it is something that no one else on the roster will have in his arsenal.

Here's our look at what Duke can expect from each of its starters this upcoming season.

PG Derryck Thornton

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Big-game experience

Duke is going to have a freshman point guard for the second year in a row, and while Derryck Thornton might not be as mature and battle-tested as Tyus Jones was, he still comes in with plenty of experience in the spotlight.

He was a part of the 2016 class until late April, when he reclassified to 2015 and committed to the Blue Devils. A few weeks before that, the 6'2" Thornton was leading Findlay Prep in the Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals in New York City.

Findlay, a Las Vegas-area school that draws basketball players from throughout the country, lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Montverde (Florida) Academy, but in defeat Thornton showed off his moves by crossing over No. 1 overall recruit (and LSU signee) Ben Simmons.

That game was one of many that Thornton played in 2014-15 on television, giving him a leg up on many young players when it comes to having to deal with Duke's TV-heavy schedule.

SG Grayson Allen

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Intensity

Grayson Allen was part of last year's top-rated recruiting class for Duke, but as the only non-starter he was almost forgotten until he'd get into a game. His playing time was quite limited, as he averaged just 9.2 minutes per game, so when he did get onto the court, the 6'4" Allen played like his hair was on fire.

This was both good and bad, since his fire would produce unbridled energy that would result in dunks and drives but also in plenty of ill-timed shots and a lack of patience at times.

Given the chance to be a more involved participant in his sophomore season, Allen figures to be far more composed when in the action. As long as he can still do that while maintaining his intensity, Duke should get plenty of production from Allen.

SF Brandon Ingram

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Local pride

The focus of a multiyear recruiting battle between in-state rivals Duke, North Carolina and NC State, Brandon Ingram was going to be considered the local hero no matter which school he chose.

Coming from Kinston (population 21,641) and arguably the most famous person in the town since former UNC stars Reggie Bullock and Jerry Stackhouse, he would be heading to one of those schools with plenty of expectations placed on him—not just because of his skill set, which helped him rise to No. 3 in 247Sports' composite rankings, but also because of his local connections.

The 6'9" Ingram is the first in-state scholarship player for Duke since Seth Curry played from 2010-13, but Curry began his career at Liberty. The last Tar Heel State freshman who wasn't a walk-on was Shavlik Randolph in 2002-03.

The fans at Cameron Indoor Stadium love all of the Blue Devils, but having a local star is something that's not common. They'll look to Ingram as more than just another superstar arriving from afar. He's also a four-time North Carolina state champion.

PF Chase Jeter

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Athleticism

Though not the highest-rated of the freshmen class—that would be Brandon Ingram—Chase Jeter is the one who could end up being the most versatile of the group. At 6'10" he'll be able to play either the 4 or the 5, using his varied skill set of low-post moves, rebounding and smoothness in the transition game to provide a complete performance.

Jeter likely would have been one of the Blue Devils' go-to scorers this season before they landed Ingram and point guard Derryck Thornton, though he might not have been able to produce like similar Duke players Jabari Parker and Justise Winslow.

Now that he's able to share that responsibility with others, it will allow the 6'10" Jeter to actually play better since he won't be so depended on by his team (and such a singular focus of opponents).

This will also enable Jeter to put more into being the team's highlight-reel maker, adding college plays to the prep version that Duke posted on Instagram earlier this week (h/t College Spun).

C Sean Obi

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Hunger

Sean Obi was an all-freshman selection in Conference USA in 2013-14 at Rice, where he averaged 11.4 points and 9.3 rebounds. But the day after the Owls introduced their new head coach, Mike Rhoades, in March 2014 he announced he was leaving the program along with guard Keith Washington.

Obi chose Duke in early May, becoming just the fifth transfer whom head coach Mike Krzyzewski has taken in during his time in Durham. Per NCAA rules, Obi had to sit out last season and becomes eligible this fall with three years left on his eligibility clock.

Duke's 2015-16 season opener hasn't been announced yet, but it's fair to say that when the ball is tipped and Obi's long wait to get back into a game is over, we'll see why Krzyzewski so badly wanted the 6'9", 270-pound big man. Obi will be hungry to show that he was worth being part of Duke, and now part of a title defense, and only Grayson Allen might rival his intensity and drive.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP. Recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.