Tough Decision Looms for Duke Basketball Veteran Jeremy Roach

With or without Jeremy Roach, the next Duke basketball backcourt is loaded.

Jeremy Roach was not one of the 45 draft entrants who received an invite this week to the NBA G League Elite Camp in Chicago (May 13-14). That led some to believe the 2022-23 Duke basketball captain won't get an opportunity to showcase his talents before the May 31 deadline to withdraw his name from the draft and return to college.

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But the league has not yet announced the invitees to the NBA Draft Combine at Winstrust Arena (May 15-21). It's not entirely out of the question that Roach will appear on that list, even though most mock drafts do not project the 6-foot-2, 180-pound guard to hear his name on draft night (June 22).

Last year, the NBA Draft Combine had 76 participants, including seven select performers from the NBA G League Elite Camp. With that in mind, one might assume roughly 70 will get automatic invites this go-round, with a half dozen or so more playing their way in via the two-day camp beforehand.

So is Roach one of the top 70 draft entrants?

First, remember that the league determines the invitees by compiling the submitted lists of players that teams want to see. Perhaps a few franchises would like to check out Roach due to his proven leadership qualities and ability to perform under a spotlight as bright as the one always pointed at the Duke basketball stage.

While his size, athleticism, and shooting percentages aren't on par with what NBA scouts typically look for in a backcourt weapon nowadays, it's worth noting that his Duke basketball career has been relatively successful, highlighted by a trip to the 2022 Final Four and cutting down the nets at the 2023 ACC Tournament.

In each of his three seasons, Roach has drawn starts in more than half of the team's games. He's improved his 3-point percentage each season, albeit only slightly. And he increased his scoring average by five points from his sophomore to junior campaign, becoming Duke's second-leading scorer last season at 13.6 points per game.

Without his veteran presence and clutch playmaking for the 2023-24 Blue Devils, it's doubtful they would have gone undefeated at home in Jon Scheyer's first season at the helm and strung together 10 wins before their season-ending loss to Tennessee in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.

CAP IS CLUTCH 🥷🥷🥷🗣️ @Jeremyroach10

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— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 11, 2023

If Jeremy Roach does not snag an NBA Draft Combine invite, the assumption is he will announce his return to Duke shortly after that. After all, at that point, it would be a near certainty that he won't get drafted.

However, there's a chance he could call it a day on his college career anyway and take his talents overseas or try to earn a spot on a G League roster. Sure, he could decide to transfer, but that's probably the most unlikely route; Thursday is the deadline to enter the transfer portal.

Should Roach return to Durham, the Duke basketball team would likely solidify its spot atop preseason national rankings.

That said, consider that starting guard Tyrese Proctor is returning for a sophomore campaign and seems poised to be the primary floor general. Plus, the Blue Devils add five-star guards Caleb Foster and Jared McCain to the mix, not to mention the expected return of sophomore-to-be Jaden Schutt and junior-to-be Jaylen Blakes.

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With Roach in the equation, Scheyer would have his hands full in divvying up backcourt minutes. Three-guard lineups are an option, though. Even so, Roach might have to accept a reduced role.

We'll have to wait and see which path he chooses. Yet that wait could be over in a matter of days, as the finalized list of NBA Draft Combine invitees will likely come out early next week.

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