Durham Reporter

Duke University landed the No. 3 overall player in the class, Paolo Banchero, who signed a letter of intent to attend the school and play basketball. 

Banchero was a surprise commit to Duke, reported 247Sports.com, and he is a big boost to Duke's 2021 recruiting efforts. Banchero stands at 6' 9", weighs 235 pounds and plays forward for O'Dea High School in Seattle.

One coach says Banchero is a very motivated young man.

"This will be my fourth year coaching Paolo, and [I] have known him since he was a young man," Jason Kerr, director of facilities, associate director of admissions and head basketball coach for O'Dea High School, told the Durham Reporter. 

Kerr said Banchero is highly regarded by the coaching staff and his teammates. 

"Paolo is driven and motivated young man," said Kerr. "He is simply an extension of the coaching staff at this stage in his career. He is a great leader, hard worker and is loved and respected by his coaches and teammates."

When asked if Kerr believes Banchero will be successful at the college level, Kerr said, "There is no question he will have success at the elite college level. Paolo has the body, skills and mindset to be an immediate impact at the highest level."

Kerr said Banchero will have an impact on Duke's basketball team right away.

"Paolo will have an immediate impact upon the Duke program due to skills, size and understanding of what it means to be a great teammate and coachable," said Kerr.

Kerr also said that Banchero is a great young man off the court as well.

"Paolo is an outstanding young man that comes from a great family," he said. "Great character, hard working and a great teammate and friend to his peers."

Kerr has been coaching high school basketball for 26 years and is entering his 19th season as head coach, according to O'Dea High School's website. 

Banchero is expected to have flexibility on the court. 

“They told me I would play all over the floor,” Banchero told 247Sports.com in September. “They wouldn’t keep me outside all the time or inside all the time. I would just have freedom and the ability to be a leader on the court.”

247Sports.com National Recruiting Analyst Josh Gerson projects that Banchero will be a first-round NBA draft pick, maybe after only one year on the college level.