Duke Basketball: Each Projected Starter's Top Priority in 2016-17

It takes a team to win a championship, but each player also has to do his job individually.

This is what the Duke Blue Devils will have to deal with in the 2016-17 season, featuring arguably the most talented roster in college basketball. The challenge won't necessarily be having enough to win, but instead having everyone fill a role to help the team.

With so many different personalities, there will be a lot of different focal points over the summer and heading into the upcoming year. Still, if they are able to take care of business, the payoff will be immense.

Here is a look at the top priorities for each projected starter going into next season.

Frank Jackson: Create for Others

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Duke had one true point guard on the roster last season—Derryck Thornton—but he struggled to make a quick transition to college and ended up spending a lot of time on the bench. This forced Grayson Allen, Matt Jones and others to try to take on more of a facilitating role.

Frank Jackson also isn't a true point guard, but he is the best option on the roster going forward.

He had a scoring mindset throughout his high school career with the athleticism and shooting ability to make him a serious threat with the ball. On a lesser team, he would be the go-to option with the ball in his hands the majority of the game.

The problem is that Duke needs a pass-first player who can get the ball to all the weapons around the court. Jackson has this ability with the quickness to get into the lane and the passing ability when he gets there. He will need to work on his vision and overall instincts on the court, but there is no doubt he can become a real lead guard with time.

If he can work on creating chances for others and not just himself, the Blue Devils will be in great shape.

Grayson Allen: Improve Defense

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Allen was expected to take on a bigger offensive role in his sophomore season, but even the biggest Duke fans had to be surprised by his production. After struggling to see the floor in his first year, the guard broke out with an average of 21.6 points per game and a team-high 3.5 assists per game.

While the high scoring totals came from a lack of alternatives, his efficiency remained high, as he shot 50.2 percent from the field, 41.7 percent from three-point range and 83.7 percent from the free-throw line.

As good as his offense was, though, his defense remains a work in progress. According to Sports-Reference.com, his offensive box plus/minus of 9.0 was among the best in the country, but a defensive mark of 0.7 tied for the worst on the team among main rotational players.

The problem doesn't necessarily come from just a lack of quickness; it comes from poor focus and discipline on that end of the court. He did a lot of ball-watching while leaving his man open as well as showcasing poor effort in one-on-one scenarios.

If Allen is going to take the next step as an All-American and potential future NBA player, he will need to become a bigger threat on the defensive end.

Jayson Tatum: Learn to Play with Other Scorers

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Jayson Tatum might be the most advanced scorer in the entire class. While some incoming freshmen are able to succeed with their size or athleticism before struggling against quality competition, Tatum is ready to be a star from day one.

The forward has an advanced offensive skill set with a smooth mid-range game and the awareness to create his own shot from anywhere on the floor. It's easy to expect him to make a quick jump to college basketball and become a star at this level as well.

However, one difficult part of his transition will be the change in role. He has always been the best player on his team, which means the ball is usually in his hands, and it is his job to create offense.

With a loaded roster full of future NBA talent, that won't necessarily be the case on Duke next season. He will have to share the ball more often, which could take him out of a rhythm. He will also need to work on moving without the ball and getting himself open.

Tatum could be instant offense, but it will take work to become a more complete player.

Harry Giles: Stay Healthy

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The starting lineup is far from set with so much time before the start of the regular season. Not only could Matt Jones or Luke Kennard earn spots at various positions, but Amile Jefferson has a good chance of starting at either the 4 or 5.

When everyone is healthy, however, Harry Giles as a starting power forward provides Duke the most upside and the best chance to win.

Still, that question about health will remain prevalent all year long. Giles tore his ACL in the first game of his senior season, marking the second time in his young career he suffered a devastating knee injury. He discussed his rehab in April with Jason Jordan of USA Today:

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We’re just taking everything slow. It just doesn’t make any sense to rush anything so I definitely won’t be in any summer leagues. I’m doing my rehab at Duke three times a week, I’m in the pool constantly rehabbing and even out here I’m doing my band work with stretching. I’m about to start running. I just want to be 110 percent ready because we’ve got business to handle next season.

"

While he is confident he will be ready to go from the start of the year, Duke might be smart to take things slowly. This could mean coming off the bench early on to reduce minutes or keeping him off the court altogether until he proves the injury is behind him.

Even as a one-and-done player, you never want to risk re-injury with a player who has already suffered multiple problems.

At 100 percent, Giles has a chance to be the best overall player in college basketball with an unstoppable combination of inside-out play. Still, none of that matters if he isn't healthy.

Marques Bolden: Post Defense

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Marques Bolden represents an enormous upgrade at center from Marshall Plumlee. The 5-star recruit, per 247Sports, has a developed offensive game and could provide balance with his inside scoring, especially when the shots aren't falling from the outside.

With that said, his role next season might not be all that different from the youngest Plumlee. Bolden will be asked to do the dirty work in the post, grabbing tough rebounds and finishing with dunks inside when he gets the chance.

Perhaps his most important role will be interior defense, both on and off the ball. Opposing big men shouldn't be able to score on him, while his rim protection will also make things difficult for guards driving to the basket. This type of presence will make the entire defense better and improve an area that was a major weakness a year ago.

While Bolden is capable of more, being an anchor on the defense is his biggest priority.

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