Marvin Bagley III Showed Off His Elite NBA Potential In Duke’s Comeback Win Over Texas

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Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III is a near-unanimous top five prospect when it comes to the 2018 NBA Draft, and that is even more impressive when considering he was long projected as a member of the 2019 class before reclassifying. The talented big man wasted no time making an impression with a record-setting debut in a Blue Devils uniform, but when the team’s first showcase game arrived against Michigan State, Bagley III was forced to the sidelines early with a brutal eye injury.

On Saturday, though, Bagley III was able to put his entire skill-set on full display in an overtime win over fellow top prospect Mo Bamba and the Texas Longhorns. In short, it was a breakout performance and one that should turn plenty of heads.

Bagley III finished the afternoon with 34 points (on 12-of-19 shooting) and 15 rebounds in the 85-78 win, and there were plenty of highlight-reel plays along the way. He is known for his athleticism (and upside, as a result), but Bagley also flashed more awareness in this game, including high-low passing.

Beyond that, his lengthy, explosive frame was visible on a number of dunks and difficult finishes, further driving home the point that he could become a devastating player near the rim at the NBA level. Not to be pigeon-holed, however, Bagley III even put together a few crafty post moves that provide optimism for him as a more complete player.

For good measure, high school coaching legend Bob Hurley Sr. praised Bagley with a flattering comparison to a future Hall of Famer.

Make no mistake, there is a long way to go with Bagley III, and that is the nature of most college freshmen in the early portion of their careers. Still, any lingering doubt about his virtual-lock status as a top-five player in this class was likely erased on a national stage this weekend, even if some of the sporting world was dialed in on football and/or family time while it happened.

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