Future Duke teammates Kennard, Jeter build friendship
CHICAGO – Luke Kennard and Chase Jeter are on opposite teams this week in the McDonald's All American Game, but the two friends have had time to catch up as roommates.
The Duke signees will be roommates their freshman season in Durham for the 2015-16 season and both seem to complement each other well on the court.
Though the two live in different areas of the country, they are able to share a common background of elite basketball ability.
Kennard, the 6-foot-6 guard from Franklin and Jeter, the 6-10 center from Las Vegas, were teammates on the Under-18 U.S. national team that won a gold medal last summer in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship in Colorado Springs.
"It's great because one is on the perimeter and one is on the inside," said Paul Biancardi, ESPN.com's National Director of Recruiting and a McDonald's All American Game committee member.
"They can certainly play a pick-and-roll game together. Again, because Luke can make a pass off his dribble. Jeter is really fundamentally sound. I think they play well because they are an inside-outside threat."
Both players took their official visits together on Duke's campus. They've seen each other at various tournaments and camps within the past year too.
Bishop Gorman defeated Franklin in the final of the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., in late December.
"It's fun," Jeter told Cincinnati.com. "I am looking forward to finally being his teammate. All this time I have been going up against him. But, me and him have developed a pretty close bond off the court."
The two will often talk about where they live, school and what they're looking forward to the most at Duke next season. Both are very pleased to see Duke in the Final Four this weekend.
Jeter said Kennard is an excellent passer and he's looking forward to being the recipient of some of those assists.
"Just watching him you can see how he makes his teammates better," Jeter said. "Just the way he can facilitate that ball and be able to shoot from almost anywhere on the floor – it's amazing."
Kennard said he knows what Jeter will bring to the table and the two like to joke around as their friendship continues to build.
Jeter averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and 4.0 blocks for Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) this past season. He can rebound, score inside and runs the floor well.
"Jeter to me is probably the most consistent big man in the class," Biancardi said. "Now he is not going to make you forget about (Duke freshman standout Jahlil) Okafor. Nobody will. But, he is consistent."
Kennard, who averaged 38.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.2 steals this past season, will likely be at the shooting guard position next season, Biancardi said.
"He is an aggressive scorer," Biancardi said. "…He has a good basketball IQ. He understands that if he is overplayed to cut backdoor. He understands when he gets double teamed to give (the ball) up and how to give it up and where the open guy will be."
Biancardi said he will be terrific from the outside against the zone and has the ability to slash in the zone, too. He believes Kennard will be a steady performer and has the ability to compete for significant minutes.
While Duke will likely lose Okafor to the NBA after the Final Four and possibly others, Jeter and Kennard will enter the program with excellent credentials.
"They remind me a little bit of each other in terms of how they have a lot of individual talent but they structure that within the framework of the team," Biancardi said. "They both bring different attributes."