Duke Basketball Recruiting: Make-or-Break Players for 2016 Class

Duke's recruiting work for its 2016 class has gone swimmingly to this point, with commitments from three highly regarded players. Those prospects officially become Blue Devils when they sign their national letters of intent, though anything can happen until then.

Each of those pledges were key targets for Duke, and being able to ensure they all stay committed to the program is essential to its future plans. So, too, are a handful of uncommitted players the Blue Devils hope to win over in the coming weeks and months.

If one or more of these players doesn't end up in Durham, it might not be the end of the world, but it could impact what the 2016-17 team is able to accomplish.

Here's a look at the make-or-break recruits for Duke in the 2016 class.

C Marques Bolden

247Sports

Height, weight: 6'10", 254 lbs

National ranking: 20th

Recruitment status: Uncommitted

As it stands, the only true center that Duke will have on its roster for 2016-17 is Antonio Vrankovic, a 7'0" freshman who might not have to play much this season. The Blue Devils should have Sean Obi back for his junior year, but at 6'9", he's more of a power forward, as is 6'10" freshman Chase Jeter.

Being able to grab Marques Bolden would provide the Devils with a scenario similar to last season, when Jahlil Okafor made it possible to have a traditional back-to-the-basket player who could be fed from numerous other players.

Bolden, from the same Texas high school (DeSoto) as current junior guard Matt Jones, is heading to Duke if 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictor is any indication. Duke has 82 percent of the picks to this point, though Bolden's scheduled visit to Durham on Oct. 17 was canceled, per Ben Roberts of the Lexington Herald-Leader. He made his official visit there on Sept. 18.

PF Javin DeLaurier

247Sports

Height, weight: 6'9", 215 lbs

National ranking: 40th

Recruitment status: Committed to Duke

The most recent player Duke picked up for 2016, Javin DeLaurier made his pledge on Sept. 27 at the end of his official visit. That doesn't guarantee he'll sign with the Blue Devils, though, and to drive this point home, the Charlottesville, Virginia, native made an official visit to Stanford on Oct. 10.

The commitment of DeLaurier is important in two ways. First, he can serve as an instant replacement for one of Duke's top-tier frontcourt freshmen from this year's team if either turns pro after his freshman season. Brandon Ingram is projected by NBADraft.net as the No. 4 pick in the 2016 draft, while Chase Jeter could also leave if he has a strong enough season.

Second, DeLaurier serves as a backup plan for if Duke isn't able to land big man Harry Giles. Having both would be better, since it provides more options for the Blue Devils next season, but holding onto him makes for some protection if Giles doesn't join the fold in the future.

PF Harry Giles

247Sports

Height, weight: 6'10", 210 lbs

National ranking: 2nd

Recruitment status: Uncommitted

Duke is set to host Harry Giles for his official visit this weekend, and it's expected the Blue Devils will pull out all the stops in hopes they can get one of the most coveted prospects in the country to commit before heading back to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.

That probably won't happen no matter how well the visit goes, since Giles' coach has said he expects him to announce in November during the early signing period.

"He's talked about maybe doing something on the 12th or the 13th maybe on ESPNU," Oak Hill coach Steve Smith told The 4 Quarters Podcast, per Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog.com. "And I think once he makes the Duke visit he'll have almost two weeks for the smoke to clear and talk to his family and get his bearings straight and make the decision that’s best for him and his family."

Giles has already made visits to Kansas, Kentucky and Wake Forest, his other finalists. North Carolina had been in contention but was eliminated earlier this month.

Much like with 2016 commit Javin DeLaurier, Giles would be able to slide right into Duke's lineup as a replacement for any frontcourt players who depart, though he could also enable the Blue Devils to go with him and Chase Jeter as a tandem in the paint. They don't have to have him, since DeLaurier has already committed, but with 76 percent of 247Sports' Crystal Ball predictions, it looks like they should get him.

PG Frank Jackson

247Sports

Height, weight: 6'3", 180 lbs

National ranking: 14th

Recruitment status: Committed to Duke

Mike Krzyzewski knows it's possible that his 2016-17 team will mark the third in a row with a freshman at point guard, but he's made sure not to have to sweat this situation out like this past offseason. Despite having a good indication that Tyus Jones would turn pro after the year, Krzyzewski hadn't signed or even received a commitment from a replacement prior to Jones making his early entry official.

Duke was able to get its man when it convinced Derryck Thornton to reclassify and sign in May, but such a move was also done to speed up Thornton's clock and get him into the pros sooner. He could leave after one season, much like Jones, which made getting his potential successor lined up as soon as possible a priority.

Frank Jackson is the heir apparent to Thornton after pledging to the Blue Devils on Sept. 1, the Utah native choosing them over BYU, Stanford and Utah. He's listed as a combo guard by 247Sports because of his shooting ability, which would make for extra versatility if Thornton were to stick around and Duke were to lose any of its shooting guards (Grayson Allen, Matt Jones, Luke Kennard) early.

SF Jayson Tatum

247Sports

Height, weight: 6'8", 195 lbs

National ranking: 4th

Recruitment status: Committed to Duke

Duke's first commitment for 2016-17 came during the summer when St. Louis prospect Jayson Tatum picked the Blue Devils after a game at the Peach Jam tournament in Atlanta. Since that pledge, though, Duke's coaches have made numerous visits with Tatum and also had him in for the Midnight Madness event earlier this month.

Tatum is a similar player to current Blue Devils freshman Brandon Ingram, who figures to be a one-and-done player. Tatum likely factored this into his decision in choosing the Blue Devils over Kentucky and hometown school Saint Louis, and his friendship with Harry Giles could help Duke pick up that prized prospect.

Though Tatum seems firm in his commitment, if he were to back off, it would create a major hole in Duke's plans for next season. The only other player Duke has offered in the 2016 class who's even close to Tatum in terms of size and skill set is Tyus Battle, a 6'6" guard who is committed to Syracuse.

All recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.