News-Record.com

Got a chance to watch a portion of the McDonald's All-American game on Wednesday in the company of a few rabid Duke fans. Needless to say, they were feeling very, very giddy watching future Duke point guard Greg Paulus tossing assists to future Duke big man - and Mickey D's MVP - Josh McRoberts.

But they were also feeling worried about McRoberts. He's 6-10, long, athletic, skilled, with a game that starts at the 3-point line and ends way, way above the rim. In other words, the kind of player that usually has NBA types hot on his heels this time of the year.

So far, McRoberts has given every indication that he plans to come to Duke. But bear in mind that before last year's McDonald's game no one was even talking about the possibility that UNC recruit J.R. Smith might end up NBA bound. Then he blew up in the game and the rest is history.

Maybe McRoberts will be different. You just never know until that deadline for declaring for the draft passes. But here's an interesting note to consider: Duke has recently offered a 6-6 wing player named Geoff McDermott a scholarship. He's a senior, meaning the Blue Devils could bring in six scholarship players next year. Add those to the two rising sophomores, the five rising seniors and the return of fifth-year senior Patrick Johnson, who was on scholarship last year, and you've got 14 scholarship players. That's one over the limit.

So what does that mean? Either Johnson's not getting a scholarship next season, which is certainly possible given that he's been walk-on status before, or Duke is anticipating that someone's either not coming back next year or not showing up on campus.

Of course, that's all based on the assumption that McDermott signs with Duke. Apparently Providence and BC have been pursuing him for some time and he's also got scholarships from some Big East schools in football as well. But as other coaches know, when K puts on the hard sell, recruits rarely refuse.

Again, at this point it's all merely conjecture. Better get used to that sort of stuff for the next month and a half, though.