Duke Basketball: Blue Devils reportedly to host 2019 PF Trendon Watford

The Duke basketball coaches are arriving late to the dance, but they may get the last dance with one of the top uncommitted high school seniors.

A potential longterm relationship appears to be sparking between the Duke basketball program and five-star 2019 power forward Trendon Watford. As a result, an old list may be going up in flames.

Despite narrowing his possible college destinations to four back in December — Alabama, Indiana, LSU, and Memphis — Watford, who ranks No. 27 overall and No. 1 in Alabama on the 247Sports Composite, clearly answered last week whether he is interested in getting to know better his latest suitor:

“Yes, for sure,” he told AL.com’s Josh Bean after two Duke assistants were in attendance on Thursday to watch his Mountain Brook High School (located on the outskirts of Birmingham) advance to the state championship game. “Coach K, you know how great he is and how he is with players, he’s special.”

ALSO READ: Blue Devils have eyes for 2019 PF Trendon Watford

And following his team’s title win on Saturday, the 6-foot-9, 230-pounder spoke to AL.com’s Joseph Goodman, who reported that “Watford is making an official visit to Duke on Tuesday.” His visit to Duke would be the fourth official visit of his senior year after dropping by Alabama, LSU, and Memphis months ago.

One would assume the day of the visit implies he will be in attendance for the Blue Devils’ last home game of the season — No. 3 Duke (25-4; 13-3 in ACC) hosts Wake Forest (11-17; 4-12 in ACC) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

One would also assume Watford, who seems to be a candidate to stay in college for more than one season, has a strong chance to receive an offer from coach Mike Krzyzewski before leaving Durham.

NOTE: Hours after this article was published, Stock Risers’ Jake Weingarten, after initially confirming the official visit via tweet, tweeted: “Just spoke with five-star senior Trendon Watford, he will not visit Duke officially this Tuesday, although, a visit is in the works but nothing has been scheduled.”

Watford certainly seems worthy of donning a Duke basketball jersey.

His ball-handling is strong for his position. His soft touch from inside and out is ideal. His athleticism is enough to get the job done. His grasp of the game is, by all accounts, off the charts. He has a nose for rebounds. And his full-steam-ahead bully moves to the basket — whether starting in the paint or from the perimeter — seem to be his specialty. Overall, his game sparks visions of a mashup of former Duke one-and-doner Justise Winslow and former UNC great Antawn Jamison.

All that being said, despite being a gifted scorer and what could be a necessary piece to Duke’s 2019-20 puzzle, his scoring potion is not quite as potent as that of another uncommitted five-star power forward, Matthew Hurt, who ranks No. 8 on the composite and holds Duke’s only current outstanding offer to a 2019 prospect (Hurt isn’t likely to announce his decision until April).

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However, it’s conceivable — keeping in mind the fact that the Blue Devils will lose no less than three starters and potentially all five from the current squad — that Duke could convince both Watford and Hurt to join a class that currently ranks No. 6 in the nation, per 247Sports.

The addition of both would almost assure the Blue Devils of owning the nation’s top recruiting class for the fourth year straight (would also mark five of the past six).

As of late, Duke’s appearance has intensified inside the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Hurt.

ALSO READ: Duke would best showcase 2019 PF Matthew Hurt

As for Watford, he, like Hurt, has indicated in the past that he will announce his college choice in the spring. And although Duke does not appear at all inside the Crystal Ball for Watford, an offer following the visit could be the necessary spark to change that.

Rivals’ Corey Evans concurs:

“If [the Blue Devils] do offer and make a hard run at Trendon Watford, I think he ends up in Durham.”

To date, Coach K and Co. have received commitments from three 2019 recruits: five-star center Vernon Carey Jr. (ranks No. 3), five-star small forward Wendell Moore (ranks No. 22), and four-star combo guard Boogie Ellis (ranks No. 34).

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