Experts temper Duke basketball’s hope to snag five-star center

Recent predictions imply the Duke basketball recruiting machine cannot afford a letup down the homestretch for an all-important 2020 big man.

Up until Monday, the 247Sports Crystal Ball portrayed the Duke basketball program as all but uncatchable in the race for the 7-foot, 235-pounder who ranks No. 15 on the 2020 Composite.

Yes, there had been a lone prediction that Georgia would end up with Woodward Academy (Ga.) center Walker Kessler, but the pick was months old and not in tune with the five-star’s recently announced six finalists: Duke, North Carolina, Auburn, Cal, Gonzaga, and Michigan.

As of Monday, though, while the Georgia pick no longer exists, one legit pick is in for a school on the list other than Duke. Recruiting analyst Dylan Prezkop — who has accurately pegged landing spots with 13 of his 14 predictions this recruiting cycle — sees Kessler taking his pillowy touch, advanced footwork, quick decision-making, improving defense, and adequate athleticism to the only remaining contender within 100 miles of his home: Auburn.

Also on Monday, Rivals recruiting insider Eric Bossi wrote the following:

"“Early prediction: Auburn made a big run at Kessler during the summer and it’s currently got my futurecast [Rivals’ equivalent of a Crystal Ball pick].”"

Of course, Bossi’s use of the word “early” suggests he is either out of the loop or hasn’t looked at a calendar lately. Kessler, who visited Duke last season and checked out Auburn in June, has already scheduled official visits for his senior year — to Michigan this weekend, to Duke the next weekend, to UNC the weekend of Sept. 20, and to Gonzaga the weekend of Oct. 4 — and made clear his intention to announce his decision before the early signing period starts on Nov. 13.

Furthermore, recruits often cancel future visits after they return from one that seals the deal. So chances are Kessler’s announcement comes sometime between next week and six weeks from now — i.e., predictions can no longer come with the “early” tag.

Ball Durham is still sticking with the prediction that Kessler will discover Blue Devil blood running through his veins by the end of his second trip to Durham. If correct, he’ll serve as the key ingredient to replace what will probably be a trio of big bodies departing the Duke basketball program after the upcoming season (Javin DeLaurier will graduate; five-star ratings suggest freshmen Vernon Carey Jr. and Matthew Hurt will bolt for the NBA).

ALSO READ: Five signs Walker Kessler commits to Duke

The Duke basketball staff currently has 2020 commitments from two five-stars — point guard Jeremy Roach and small forward Jalen Johnson — and offers still on the table to Kessler, five-star small forward Ziaire Williams, four-star center Mark Williams, four-star power forward Henry Coleman, and four-star combo guard D.J. Steward.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting updates, analyses, opinions, and predictions.