Duke Basketball: 2019 C Isaiah Stewart picks Huskies over Blue Devils

Five-star 2019 center Isaiah Stewart did not give Duke basketball fans the type of recruiting news on Sunday that they have become accustomed to hearing in recent years.

Fortunately for the Duke basketball program, the addition of Isaiah Stewart would have just been an added bonus to a 2019 recruiting class that already includes Vernon Carey Jr., a five-star big man who ranks No. 2 on the 247Sports Composite.

Stewart, a five-star center who ranks No. 6 on the composite, chose Washington on Sunday over Duke, Syracuse, Michigan State, and Kentucky. His announcement, which was broadcast live on ESPN, came as no surprise to most of the experts at the 247Sports Crystal Ball, who began to favor the Huskies a few weeks ago.

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Now that Stewart has decided not to become a Blue Devil, Duke has one offer remaining on the table to a 2019 recruit. That recruit, five-star power forward Matthew Hurt (ranks No. 7), was on his official visit to Durham this weekend and in attendance during the No. 1 Blue Devils’ 72-70 home win over No. 4 Virginia on Saturday night.

If Hurt commits to Duke — Kansas is considered the favorite at the moment, but Hurt is not likely to announce his choice until the spring — the Blue Devils could still end up with the nation’s top recruiting class (would mark the fourth year straight and five of the past six).

Also, at least one other possibility exists: R.J. Hampton, a 2020 guard who holds an offer from Duke and is only two weeks from his 18th birthday, has been taking the necessary classes to leave open the option of reclassifying; Duke leads the race for his services, according to the Crystal Ball.

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For now, though, the Duke coaching staff has commitments from just three 2019 recruits: Carey Jr., five-star small forward Wendell Moore (ranks No. 24), and five-star combo guard Boogie Ellis (ranks No. 36).

The Blue Devils’ class currently ranks No. 6 in the nation, according to 247Sports.

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