Duke basketball program again puts Kentucky recruiting on notice

Win or lose, after a highly coveted recruit announces his college decision in a couple weeks, Duke basketball fans should be able to have a good time at Kentucky’s expense.

Let’s assume the all-six-picks-to-Kentucky Crystal Ball proves true for the Sept. 14 announcement from Brewster Academy (N.H.) shooting guard Terrence Clarke. Even so, his Friday tweet unveiling six finalists will suggest — at least to those who love getting under Big Blue Nation’s skin — that he’d have rather joined the Duke basketball program or one of the other two finalists to have not extended an offer: Memphis and Boston College, per 247Sports.

Even more fun for Dukies, of course, would be if Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his assistants have covertly extended an offer and end up adding the 6-foot-7, 185-pound five-star to a 2020 class already including two of the five-stars Kentucky head coach John Calipari wanted most: point guard Jeremy Roach  and small forward Jalen Johnson.

ALSO READ: Duke scares off Kentucky on recruiting trail

Granted, Clarke is currently a 2021 prospect — he ranks No. 3 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite due in part to his long limbs and long list of driving moves — but a followup tweet to his list explains his current thinking:

"“I am a member of the class of ‘21. I will explore the possibility of reclassifying in the spring after taking the SAT & ACT and evaluating my academic performance during the upcoming school year. Stay Tuned.”"

Based on the high school junior’s age — Clarke turns 18 next week, about two weeks before Duke basketball freshman Wendell Moore does the same — a safe bet would be he’ll make his college debut in about 14 months.

In addition to Kentucky, Clarke holds offers from finalists Texas Tech and UCLA. He took an unofficial visit to Lexington for last season’s Big Blue Madness and has never taken any official visits (he likely won’t, for his scheduled announcement date implies he already knows his college choice).

According to 247Sports, Duke associate head coach Jon Scheyer — who currently sits at No. 1 on the site’s 2020 Recruiter Rankings — is leading the Blue Devils’ pursuit, offer or not.

ALSO READ: Duke cannot afford to lose Jon Scheyer

The 2020 undecided recruits who definitely do boast Duke basketball offers are five-star small forward Ziaire Williams, five-star center Walker Kessler, four-star combo guard D.J. Steward, four-star center Mark Williams, and four-star power forward Henry Coleman.

ALSO READ: Blue Devils in position for third 2020 commitment

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