Duke Basketball: 2020 C Walker Kessler catches UNC copying off Coach K

A five-star 2020 big man noticed that UNC suddenly started giving him more attention soon after he received an offer from the Duke basketball program.

Not only did Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski probably have to schedule the trip for the UNC coaches, but those coaches probably had to ask him for directions to College Park, Ga.

And once they arrived at Woodward Academy’s gym, they likely tried calling Coach K to ask him which one is Walker Kessler — a 7-foot, 235-pound 2020 center who received an offer to become a Blue Devil at the end of December.

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“UNC is starting to talk to me more since I got the Duke offer,” Kessler, who ranks No. 15 on the 247Sports Composite, told Rivals’ Dan McDonald earlier this week.

With members of the Tar Heels’ staff in attendance on Friday night — according to a tweet from Stock Risers’ Jake Weingarten — Kessler had 27 points, 13 rebounds, four assists, and seven blocks during his team’s 62-44 home win. That level of performance should lead to Roy Williams offering him a scholarship; of course, he may first have to call Krzyzewski to ask if he should.

As for the Blue Devils’ offer to the skilled paint prowler and where their recruitment of him stands, Kessler summed it all up in his interview with McDonald:

"“The assistant coach called and told me Coach K was going to call the next day, and then he did and we talked for like an hour. He said he doesn’t usually offer guys over the phone, but he did offer me then. He said that he was very surprised when he watched me in L.A., that I was 7-foot and could dribble and shoot, but he said the biggest thing was he thinks I am a smart player. I thought he recognized all the things I take pride in, so that was great.“It’s obviously a historic program, and I have very high interest in Duke. I’ll probably take an official visit there at some point.”"

Kessler, who is apparently gifted and determined in the classroom, has already taken official visits to Vanderbilt, Michigan, and Virginia; at this point, though, the 247Sports Crystal Ball only shows Georgia (83 percent) and Duke (17 percent) as his possible future destinations.

Coach K should expect a call soon from Ol’ Roy asking where that Crystal Ball is located and the best way to get there.

In addition to Kessler, the Duke staff has offers on the table to four other 2020 five-star prospects: small forward Jalen Johnson (ranked No. 4 on the composite), combo guard R.J. Hampton (ranked No. 5), shooting guard B.J. Boston (ranked No. 10), and point guard Jeremy Roach (ranked No. 16).

No 2020 recruit has yet to commit to playing in Durham.

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