Duke basketball: Blue Devils again test late-entry recruiting strategy

Another Duke basketball offer has arrived relatively late, but as with the previous such offer, the recipient’s response suggests it’s just in time.

The Duke basketball coaches aren’t shy about swooping in for a recruit after competitors have put in months of work. And they aren’t too shabby at doing so either, having landed current freshman Cassius Stanley in such a fashion in April and shaken up the race for four-star 2020 center Hunter Dickinson last week.

On Wednesday night, the Blue Devils again flexed their muscles with a 2020 offer to Huntington Prep (W.Va.) power forward Jaemyn Brakefield.

Back in August, the four-star — who ranks No. 38 on the 247Sports Composite — named 10 finalists: Kansas, UCLA, Louisville, Michigan State, Oregon, West Virginia, Ole Miss, Michigan, Florida State, and Auburn. Plus, Brakefield has already taken two official visits (to Auburn and Louisville in September) and scheduled two more (to Michigan this weekend and to Ole Miss two weeks later).

Based on what the 6-foot-9, 215-pound lefty told insider Adam Zagoria on Thursday, though, not only is he giddy about his latest offer, but Duke is likely to be the destination for his fifth allotted visit.

"“He called me last night,” Brakefield said, referring to Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski. “I’m speechless…definitely will visit Duke.”"

Looking back at Brakefield’s USA Today blog from the end of August, the 18-year-old anticipated a future suitor such as Duke coming forward.

"“When I cut my list,” Brakefield wrote, “I had schools that reached out asking me about still recruiting me, but most of those schools hadn’t offered, like Memphis, North Carolina, and Duke.“It was basically a situation where they aren’t sure they need to recruit at my position, but if that changes, then I would be open to them too. I still keep in touch with them.”"

Brakefield’s Crystal Ball only includes two picks. One favors Ole Miss. The other favors Kentucky — despite the Wildcats not making his cut in August and not yet offering him a scholarship. As for when he plans to ultimately choose a college, here’s what he said in an interview with Phenom Hoops Report last week:

"“No timetable right now, but if I was set on a school, I would definitely commit then. I wouldn’t wait. But I’ll probably cut my list again before the season starts.”"

If the Blue Devils were to snag Brakefield, then they would be receiving a stretch-four with a smooth outside shot, crisp handles, on-point rebounding instincts, and strong drives to the hoop by way of exaggerated movements. All that being said, scouts have questioned his motor, which has a tendency to fluctuate.

Playing for Phenom University on the Nike EYBL Circuit, Brakefield is a teammate of five-star small forward and current Duke basketball commit Jalen Johnson, who via a tweet expressed his being on board with the idea of teaming up again as Blue Devils (the duo share a similar frame and somewhat similar playing styles).

In addition to Johnson, Duke holds 2020 commitments from five-star point guard Jeremy Roach, five-star combo guard D.J. Steward, and four-star power forward Henry Coleman.

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The only outstanding 2020 offers from Krzyzewski and his staff are to Brakefield, four-star center Mark Williams, and five-star small forward Ziaire Williams (from all accounts, though, Duke has essentially dropped out of the race for the latter Williams, which may partially explain this latest offer).

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