Talk about recruiting classes always has to include the qualifier "on paper." The actual value of a recruiting class is decided between the lines, as are all things in sports.
That applies to the glittering collection of incoming talent set to join Duke's men's basketball team in 2018, too. But never before has a single team signed the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 players in the same class, and the Blue Devils added No. 9 on top of that.
As far as anybody can remember, this is the best recruiting class since Michigan's Fab Five, if not ever.