Austin Nichols is off the board.
Duke students hung a banner from a West Campus dorm window expressing support for Austin Nichols coming to Duke when he visited earlier this year.
Monday morning, the former Duke target announced via twitter that he will be attending Memphis next year. The 6-foot-9 power forward, who is from Memphis, was strongly considering the Blue Devils, as well as Tennessee, Auburn, Vanderbilt and Virginia.
Nichols’ decision to stay close to home does not come as a shock as many felt that Duke had been losing significant ground in recent weeks.
For Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, the news is crushing due to the fact the Blue Devils lose senior big men Mason Plumlee and Ryan Kelly after this season, which could leave the team with a thin frontcourt next season.
Now, the Blue Devil coaching staff will focus solely on its only remaining target in the class of 2013—Jabari Parker.
For more on Parker, read this week’s Recruiting Roundup.
While it hurts our front court depth, Nichols would not have been a prototypical center. Maybe we’ll have to go like Team USA that was considered small, but very athletic with several interchangeable players who could play multiple positions.