Two-time All-Star calls Duke basketball signee ‘best HS player’

Duke basketball signee Paolo Banchero (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Will Duke basketball welcome its fourth Naismith High School Trophy winner?

O’Dea (Wash.) senior Paolo Banchero is a five-star bruiser in the paint with deft perimeter skills to boot. At No. 3 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite, the 6-foot-9, 235-pound power forward is set to accompany Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) senior small forward AJ Griffin (No. 7) in giving the Duke basketball program at least two of the nation’s premier five-star freshmen next season.

And as of this week, Banchero is one of five finalists for the Naismith High School Trophy alongside Ypsi Prep (Mich.) junior forward Emoni Bates, Coronado (Nev.)…