3 All-ACC Duke players for Knicks fans to watch in March Madness

Alright, New York Knicks fans, it’s time to direct your attention to March Madness. Sure, the Knicks still have 15 games left in the regular season but at 28-40, the team’s five games back from making it to the play-in tournament. With that being said, let’s direct our attention to the future.

As usual, New York desperately needs a point guard. Rookie Miles McBride could be the answer but Tom Thibodeau hasn’t granted him a fair shot. The second-round pick in the 2021 draft has appeared in 29 games this year and is averaging 8.4 minutes.

That isn’t to say that McBride doesn’t have a future with the Knicks. However, the Knicks will have a chance to draft a point guard with their first pick in the 2022 draft. Who will that be? Or better yet, will New York even opt for a point guard?

As of right now, New York has two former Duke players on its roster in RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish. There have been “rumors” about Zion Williamson joining his fellow Blue Devils in New York but we know how those types of situations have worked out for New York in the past.

Nonetheless, there’s a chance that Duke will have two players chosen as lottery picks come June. The draft order isn’t finalized but the Knicks are currently on a two-game losing skid and if that continues, New York will jump up in the lottery rankings.

Knicks fans, let’s look at 3 Duke players that New York could pick in the 2022 draft. After all, the one that was drafted in 2019 has turned out to be pretty good, huh?

3 Duke draft prospects for New York Knicks fans to watch during March Madness.

3: SG/PG Trevor Keels

Let’s start things out with one of the top shooting guards in the 2021 class and five-star recruit Trevor Keels. If the 18-year-old isn’t a top-10 pick in the draft, he’ll go in the top-20.

Keels is averaging 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.3 steals in the 31 games that he’s played in for the Blue Devils. The first year is shooting 41.3% from the field and 32.1% from the 3-point line.

Could Trevor Keels help ease the New York Knicks’ point guard woes?

At six-foot-four and 221 pounds, Keels has a very strong stature for a guard and because of that, his strength is unmatched. For his size, he’s an effective ball-handler which is something that the Knicks currently lack.

The biggest thing that Keels needs to work on is his shot and free-throw shooting, which is currently 67.8% on the year. His explosiveness and ability to drive to the basket is a plus but if he wants to be a threat in the NBA, he needs to work on his jump shot form.

In his past two games with the Blue Devils, Keels has struggled to score. He shot 1-of-7 (14.3%) from the field and 0-of-4 from behind the arc in both contests.

The potential is there but his game needs to be ironed out. If New York decides to choose Keels with its pick, the Knicks will be receiving an athletic playmaker who’s a force on defense.

2: SF/PF AJ Griffin

In a recent ESPN mock draft (subscription required), Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz had five-star recruit and Team USA Champion AJ Griffin going to New York with the No. 11 pick.

The 18-year-old is averaging 10.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in the 34 games that he’s played in for Duke. He’s shooting 50.2% from the floor, 46.7% from the 3-point line on nearly four attempts per game, and 75.6% from the free-throw line.

AJ Griffin’s shooting would greatly benefit the New York Knicks.

Unlike Keels, the six-foot-six forward is a solid shooter which is evident from his shooting percentages. His career-high came against rival UNC on Feb. 5 in a 27-point performance where he shot 11-of-17 from the field and 3-of-6 from the 3-point line.

Griffin’s effective in catch-and-shoot jump shots and off-the-dribble jump shots. If the Knicks can find/develop a point guard, the versatile forward will help to space the floor, especially with his ability to knock down 3-pointers.

In fact, if he can keep his 3-point percentage above 46%, he’ll become the first player in Duke’s storied history to attempt more than 100 shots from downtown while hitting more than 46% of them. That’s impressive, especially when you consider the 3-point shooters that were once Blue Devils (ie: J.J. Reddick).

With his seven-foot wingspan, Griffin’s athleticism is a bonus on the defensive end too. He has the tools to become a 3-and-D threat in the NBA.

Griffin got out to a rough start but since the start of 2022, he’s grown into a potential lottery pick. If he winds up in New York, fans should be more than happy although he isn’t a point guard.

1: PF/C Paolo Banchero

There’s no need for the Knicks to trade up to the No. 1 or No. 2 pick and that’s what would need to happen for New York to land 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero.

If the Knicks do trade up, fans will only be happy if it’s to get Purdue’s Jaden Ivey. Banchero’s played in the four and five spot for the Blue Devils but he possesses the skill set of a guard.

The 19-year-old is averaging a team-high 17 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks in the 23 games that he’s played in for Duke. Banchero is shooting 51.1% from the field, 27.5% from beyond the arc, and 73.8% from the free-throw line.

Paolo Banchero’s game would transform the New York Knicks.

Banchero’s game is dynamic on the offensive end. At six-foot-10 and 250 pounds, he’s great at producing points by attacking the rim. If he can improve his percentage from the charity stripe, he’s going to be even more successful at the professional level.

His impact on the defensive end needs improvement but if that’s something that he can develop in the NBA, he’s going to be a dual-threat.

While it’d be something to see one of the best one-and-done Blue Devils to call Madison Square Garden his home, Banchero’s most likely going to go elsewhere.

If New York’s front office decides to pick either Keels or Griffin, the Knicks should consider luring Mike Krzyzewski out of retirement to take Thibodeau’s place. I’m only kidding (maybe).

New York could soon become synonymous with ‘The Brotherhood’ and if that’d mean that the Knicks could enjoy a sliver of the success that the Blue Devils have had, why not?

Be sure to tune in to watch Duke face Cal State Fullerton on Friday, Mar. 18 at 7:10 p.m. ET on CBS.

ESPN’s latest mock draft has Knicks picking Big Ten Player of the Year

ESPN recently mocked Wisconsin's combo guard Johnny Davis to the New York Knicks. Is he the right guy for the Knicks or should they look elsewhere?