Duke Basketball: 5 Early Storylines from Blue Devils' 2017 Recruiting Trail

In modern college basketball, recruiting has become almost as important as the games themselves. This is especially true for Duke, which is hoping to continue its trend of success on the recruiting trail.

According to 247Sports, the Blue Devils put together the No. 1 class in 2016 to create a roster that is likely to be a top contender for the 2017 national title. However, the entire starting lineup could then leave after the season, leaving the program with a fresh start to build a new team.

The recruiting game never quite stops if you want to stay on top, especially when you add players who don't stay with the program for too long.

Duke fortunately has ties to a long list of quality prospects in the 2017 class, but without any commitments, the pressure is on head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff to bring in another elite group of players. Here are the top storylines to follow as things get ready to pick up in this cycle.

Duke vs. Kentucky Battles

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Duke and Kentucky easily have the two best recruiting classes for 2016, and things are only getting more interesting with the rivalry between these schools.

Hamidou Diallo started a bit of a controversy when he discussed the difference in the two programs, noting, "Duke’s pitch was if you come to Duke, you’re going to be set for life," per Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal.

Kentucky coach John Calipari was not too subtle in his response, as he stated on CoachCal.com:

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I refuse to go in a home and paint a picture saying things like, “If you come with us you’ll be taken care of for the rest of your life by the program and by our alums” even though you may only be in school for a year or two. How preposterous does that sound? What if I say that same thing and the young man decides to transfer for one reason or another? Does that still hold true that we’re going to take care of them the rest of their lives? Our approach is to give them the fishing rod and the lures to help them catch fish, not to just give you the fish.

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You can be certain there is a lot of negative recruiting going on between these two teams at every visit, creating an interesting battle. Although these squads don't always face each other on the court, the recruiting competitions have created a major rivalry.

Beyond Diallo, both Duke and Kentucky are chasing big names such as Mohamed Bamba and Wendell Carter, among others. Whichever team is able to land these prospects will have a leg up in the race for the No. 1 recruiting class in 2017.

Locking Down Kevin Knox

As usual, Duke is going after a lot of high-profile recruits. Some will come to Durham, North Carolina, and others will go elsewhere, but the most important player in the class for this team might be Kevin Knox.

247Sports considers Knox the No. 6 overall player in the country and a favorite to play for the Blue Devils, with Florida State, North Carolina and others heavily involved. If he is truly leaning one way, the coaching staff has to make sure it takes advantage of the momentum and secures a commitment.

However, the biggest reason Duke should worry about this player is the fact he is the perfect fit for this program.

The team could be starting almost from scratch in 2017-18, with various players moving on to the NBA, but Knox would be the type of go-to scorer the squad can rely upon from day one. The 6'8" wing is a versatile offensive weapon who can attack the basket or knock down a shot from the perimeter. While he could stand to put on some weight, he is capable of playing either forward position and giving the team a lot of options on both ends of the court.

The Florida native has a similar skill set to those of Jabari Parker, Brandon Ingram and Jayson Tatum, especially if he improves his consistency from the outside. While Duke wouldn't turn down top players such as Bamba or Carter, Knox is the ideal match for the Blue Devils and should be the No. 1 priority going forward.

Point Guard Need

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Trae Young

Duke is taking a risk by going into next season without a true point guard, although Frank Jackson and Grayson Allen could potentially handle the role. In any case, it's possible both could be gone by the following year.

As a result, point guard might be the biggest need from a positional standpoint. This could be a challenge, because it isn't a deep class at the position.

Trevon Duval might be the best point guard in the country thanks to his explosiveness with the ball, but actually signing him could be difficult. Unlike other players his age, he told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv he is "not caught up in the big names" such as Duke and Kentucky.

Instead, the Blue Devils might turn their attention to players such as Trae Young (6'2"), Quade Green (6'1") and Tremont Waters (5'11"). All three are a bit undersized and use quickness instead of athleticism, but the trio might be better facilitators than Duval.

Assuming Duke adds plenty of talented players to this class, getting someone who can penetrate into the lane and pass the ball might be the most important characteristic of a lead guard. In this mindset, any of Young, Green or Waters would be a quality option.

Longer-Term Prospects

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D.J. Harvey

As much as Duke has become a destination for one-and-done players, some quality options need some time to develop. Allen is going into his third season projected to be one of the top players in college basketball. Chase Jeter might not have a lot of support from fans at the moment, but he still has plenty of upside and can be a major contributor down the line.

While both players were still highly rated and actually McDonald's All-Americans, the idea of targeting players who will be better down the line is still prevalent.

Point guards such as Tremont Green and Matt Coleman could qualify for this group, although Duke probably needs someone who can contribute right away in this area.

Another possible option is D.J. Harvey, who has seen his stock slip a bit in recent months. The 6'6" guard still possesses plenty of upside as an athletic wing who can fill up the box score, but he has been too passive on the court to be rated as a star. At the college level, however, he could become a three-and-D early on before developing into a go-to option offensively.

Probably the best long-term prospect Duke is targeting is Deng Gak, a 6'11" center with almost no ceiling. He is extremely raw after coming over from Australia, but he is long and athletic, and has already shown quality tools on the offensive end. If he can learn how to be more consistent, he could be a dominant player in both college and the NBA.

Coach K Still on the Rise?

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Mike Krzyzewski is the most accomplished coach in college basketball, but when you are pitching your team to a teenage athlete, it's more about "What have you done for me lately?"

As a 69-year-old coach, this can sometimes be a tough sell.

Fortunately for the Blue Devils, Coach K already explained that he doesn't even have retirement on his mind. For those players expecting to play for four years, this is an encouraging sign.

Meanwhile, Duke is only one year removed from a national championship and once again has a loaded team for 2016-17. Prospects will see a likely top contender throughout the regular season and possibly helped be convinced to come to Durham.

Another gold medal at the Olympics for Krzyzewski this summer won't hurt either.

You always have to stay relevant in order to win recruiting battles, and the Duke coach is doing exactly what is needed.

Unless otherwise noted, recruit ratings and information are courtesy of 247Sports.

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