Coach K lands 2 top players from Class of '07

Less than two weeks into 2006, Duke has already received its first two verbal commitments for the recruiting class of 2007. Nolan Smith, a junior at Oak Hill Academy and Taylor King, a junior at Mater Dei High School, each informed head coach Mike Krzyzewski yesterday that he will enroll at Duke in the fall of 2007.

Smith, a five-star recruit, is listed as the fifth-best point guard in his class and the 16th-best junior in the country by scout.com. He had narrowed his choices to Duke, Louisville and Georgetown and Wednesday night made it clear that Duke was the favorite. Thursday morning, he decided to commit to the Blue Devils.

"He called Coach Pitino at 3 o'clock and informed him that he's going to Duke," Oak Hill coach Steve Smith told scout.com. "[Pitino] wished him well. [Nolan] talked to Duke this morning. He's committed."

Smith, who is from Mitchelville, Md., is listed at 6-foot-3, but his shoe size is currently 17, so a growth spurt may be possible in his future. He has mentioned in the past that his father, former NBA player Derek Smith, shot up six inches during college.

"Nolan Smith is a true combo guard," said Dave Telep, scout.com's national recruiting director. "Defensively, he is way ahead of the curve."

Thus far this season, Smith is averaging 17 points and 7.1 assists per game, while shooting 62 percent from the field and 81 percent from the free throw line.

"He is going to fit in easily at Duke," Telep said. "He is versatile, intelligent and defensive-minded. When you recruit a kid like Smith, the plan is to play him."

King, a 6-foot-8 forward, has played mainly on the perimeter, taking advantage of his smooth left-handed jump shot. In his junior campaign, the four-star recruit has scored 26 points and pulled down 14 rebounds per game.