Duke basketball: Brotherhood flexes, rivals cry, same old story

By reclaiming the top spot on the 2020 class rankings by way of another sudden commitment from an elite talent, the Duke basketball recruiting machine is once again the subject of tired rants.

Money bags. Preseason national championships. Recruiting over players. Every time the Duke basketball staff lands a heralded prospect, rival fans bore Duke Twitter with recycled garbage. What the haters understandably fail to either comprehend or admit is that the Blue Devils are simply prospering from the clever marketing ploy they initiated in 2016: #TheBrotherhood.

On Friday, less than 24 hours after announcing his offer from Mike Krzyzewski and having never even taken an official visit to Duke, Huntington Prep (W.Va.) senior power forward Jaemyn Brakefield announced his commitment. By doing so, he became the 23rd top-40 recruit since the 2016 class — 11.5 percent of all such prospects from this span — to join #TheBrotherhood.

Those 10 programs who thought back in August that being among Brakefield’s “finalists” actually mattered — not to mention the four who had recently hosted him — are now probably left wondering if they should just start saving themselves time by backing off any player who has ever attracted any attention whatsoever from #TheBrotherhood.

By swooping in to snatch away Brakefield — a stretch-four — Krzyzewski and his team are receiving a 6-foot-9, 215-pound four-star who ranks No. 38 on the 247Sports 2020 Composite and has the ability to create offense in the paint or from the perimeter. His long steps and controlled force when attacking the basket, along with his adequate outside shot, bring to mind former Duke basketball one-and-done Justise Winslow.

So the 18-year-old lefty adds another powerful weapon to a class that already consisted of four-star power forward Henry Coleman and three five-stars: point guard Jeremy Roach, combo guard D.J. Steward, and small forward Jalen Johnson. Plus, the Duke coaches are the favorites to haul in four-star center Mark Williams. And they have a legit chance to also add another talent they entered the race for late in four-star center Hunter Dickinson.

ALSO READ: 2020 center makes changes, advantage Blue Devils

In his USA Today blog — published just after his tweeted announcement — Brakefield touched on his love for the Duke basketball program, a group chat, and that group’s future plans.

"“Ever since day one, it’s been a dream of mine,” Brakefield explained about playing his college ball in Durham. “I’d always prayed that this would happen, and now that it has happened, I can’t thank God enough. I committed last night, and I released it today.“When Coach K called and offered me, we had a long talk and I learned a lot in that talk alone. I knew that he was the coach that I would develop the most under. It was exactly the kind of call I thought it would be. He’s truly a legend in every way…I could just tell that he was really genuine. He really cares for his players.”"

Brakefield continued:

"“I’m on a group chat with all of the other commits, Jeremy (Roach), Jalen (Johnson), D.J. (Steward) and Henry (Coleman), and I just sent a picture of me in the Duke uniform! They were all really excited. We all feel like we can win a national championship!“Right now, I’m gonna be recruiting Mark (Williams) and Hunter (Dickinson) to join our class…Both would be a great addition!”"

ALSO READ: Duke target says playing for Coach K ‘would be incredible’

So after graciously allowing Kentucky to finally again feel what it’s like to hold the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class — the Wildcats haven’t finished No. 1 since #TheBrotherhood became a thing — Duke is now back in its usual spot.

If the ranking holds up, then the Blue Devils would hold five of the nation’s past seven No. 1 recruiting classes. And to the worry of Duke basketball haters — whether they acknowledge it or not — #TheBrotherhood appears to just be growing in terms of influence.

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