Five-star 2019 center Isaiah Stewart, who has the Duke basketball program on his final list of five, has set his announcement date.
If the Duke basketball coaches hear the news that they are hoping for on Sunday evening, they will likely end up with the top recruiting class in the country for the fourth consecutive year (would be five of the past six).
Isaiah Stewart will announce his college choice at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday (on ESPN), according to a tweet on Friday morning from ESPN’s Paul Biancardi.
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The five-star 2019 center has five schools on his list: Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, Syracuse, and Washington. He has taken official visits to all five and had been hinting for months that he would soon decide.
Well, that time has come for the 6-foot-9, 245-pound Rochester native with a 7-foot-5 wingspan. Stewart, who ranks No. 6 on the 247Sports Composite, has a game that shares similarities to that of two former Blue Devils in particular: Elton Brand, due to his soft touch around the basket and mobility, and Shelden Williams, due to his ability to shut down opponents’ offense in the paint.
The 247Sports Crystal Ball shows Washington as the overwhelming favorite at the moment with 56 percent of the experts’ picks. Duke is second with 17 percent.
Mike Krzyzewski and his staff have already received commitments from three 2019 recruits: five-star center Vernon Carey Jr. (ranked No. 2), five-star small forward Wendell Moore (ranked No. 24), and four-star combo guard Boogie Ellis (ranked No. 36).
Matthew Hurt, a five-star power forward who ranks No. 7, is the only prospect other than Stewart in the 2019 class who holds an offer from Duke but has not announced a decision. Hurt is not expected to announce until the spring.
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Currently, the Blue Devils’ 2019 class ranks No. 6 in the country. However, a commitment from either Stewart or Hurt would likely bump them into the top spot.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting updates, analysis, opinions, and predictions.