Duke basketball: Recruit explains indecision, gives Blue Devils hope

Based on a few new quotes, a decision from a jumbo Duke basketball target should come shortly — or not — and still has a shot to be to the Blue Devils’ liking.

Before the calendar turns to 2020, DeMatha Catholic (Md.) senior center Hunter Dickinson will either join the Duke basketball family or pick one of his other three finalists: Michigan, Notre Dame, and Florida State.

Well, that’s now his stated plan, anyway. The 7-foot-2, 260-pound four-star with a No. 34 ranking on the 247Sports 2020 Composite had originally intended to commit in time for November’s signing period.

“I wanted to sign early,”  Dickinson told 247Sports insider Evan Daniels. “But I felt like if I had made a decision during the early signing period then I would’ve been rushing it, and that was something I didn’t want to do, especially with my career, so I felt like taking two weeks wouldn’t hurt anybody.”

The 19-year-old also explained to Daniels how fall visits to the four schools hurt his ability to make up his mind, in part because he didn’t discover a utopia:

"“I wish one stuck out to me, it would’ve made it easier…They were all just great facilities, great coaches, great players. That made it the hardest because there wasn’t one that made it a perfect situation…They all have a lot of positives and one or two negatives. They’re not perfect but all just really good schools.”"

Imperfections aside, Dickinson has apparently chopped his list in half. Well, again, maybe not.

“I think I’m within two,” he noted, “but I think all four still have a chance.”

So is Duke one of the two? Well, his comments concerning Mike Krzyzewski and his potential playing time in Durham provide a glimmer of hope:

"“Coach K , in general, when he calls you have to respond to him. He’s probably the greatest coach ever, so to play for him would be cool. They keep telling me how much of an opportunity I would have to come in right away since Vernon [Carey Jr.] is leaving. There [are] a lot of minutes there, and I can make an impact right away.”"

But Dickinson — whose girlfriend, track star Ziyah Holman, signed with Michigan in November — highlighted each of his suitor’s unique advantages. He pointed to his respect for what Juwan Howard is building with the Wolverines, opined that Florida State’s “track record of developing big men is pretty impressive,” and touched on his three-year relationship with Notre Dame head coach and DeMatha alum Mike Brey.

Though his Crystal Ball favors Michigan — all five picks agree — the fact there’s no prediction from Daniels, who has accurately pegged landing spots with 67 of his 68 picks for the 2020 class, suggests Dickinson must’ve genuinely come across as undecided during their chat.

What will the winner of the Dickinson sweepstakes receive? His size speaks for itself, but his mobility as a giant is also impressive. One way to describe the lefty is by tagging him as a nimbler version of former Duke basketball big man Brian Zoubek — with a few more weapons, including a soft hook and a smooth outside shot.

Dickinson is the only 2020 recruit with an unanswered Duke basketball offer. Coach K and Co. currently possess the nation’s No. 2 class with signatures from six top 50 prospects: point guard Jeremy Roach, combo guard D.J. Steward, small forward Jalen Johnson, power forward Henry Coleman, power forward Jaemyn Brakefield, and center Mark Williams.

ALSO READ: Blue Devils may add No. 1 recruit to 2020 class

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