Duke Basketball: PG R.J. Hampton could reclassify to 2019 and pick Duke
By Matt Giles
R.J. Hampton is currently the top point guard in the 2020 class, but will he reclassify and become the first recruit to commit to the Duke basketball program’s 2019 class?
Another R.J. could be on the way to play Duke basketball. And he might arrive sooner than any coaches originally thought.
Five-star point guard R.J. Hampton is currently listed as the No. 4 overall prospect and the top combo guard in the class of 2020, according to the composite rankings at 247 Sports. However, he is considering a reclassification that would make him a member of the class of 2019.
“It’s still open for discussion with me and my family,” Hampton said, according to Jason Jordan of USA Today High School Sports. “We’re just taking our time and thinking it through.”
On Tuesday evening, Hampton tweeted, “News coming Friday…”
Could he be announcing his reclassification? Could he be announcing a list of schools he plans to visit? Or could he be skipping ahead in the recruiting process by announcing his decision to come to Duke or another program?
All we can do is stay tuned.
No matter when the 6-foot-4, 180-pound native of Little Elm, Texas, ends up going to college, though, most experts consider the Duke Blue Devils to be the favorite. According to the Crystal Ball at 247 Sports, Duke has a 75 percent chance to receive a commitment from Hampton.
Although Hampton has not yet named a definitive list, the other schools he mentions the most in his blog include Kentucky, Memphis, Kansas, Texas, and TCU.
And if anyone looks at his recent Twitter feed, it is clear that he is a fan of at least one former Blue Devil.
On Aug. 22, he retweeted a video of Grant Hill’s NBA highlights from the 90s. While he’s obviously an admirer of Hill’s game, hopefully he is also aware of where Hill played his college ball and which coach he played for.
Hampton is not as tall as Hill, but his court vision seems to come just as naturally as that of the two-time national champion. No matter where the 17-year-old is on the court, the most impressive part of his game is his ability to spot open teammates.
If Hampton is anywhere near as talented as either Hill or the R.J. who just arrived in Durham (Barrett), Duke fans would be more than happy to welcome him to Cameron Indoor Stadium — no matter which year it actually happens.
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