Duke basketball: Coach K could seek 2021’s entire top five

Understandably, the presumed last class under the one-and-done rule has the Duke basketball recruiters appearing as ambitious as ever.

Duke basketball offers are already in the hands of the top three prospects on the 247Sports 2021 Composite: The Patrick School (N.J.) small forward Jonathan Kuminga, Hamilton (Wis.) small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr., and O’Dea (Wash.) power forward Paolo Banchero, respectively.

As for No. 4, Minnehaha Academy (Minn.) center Chet Holmgren disclosed in May, per insider Andrew Slater, his desire to hear from the Duke coaches. He since has. Now, in the video below — put out last week from Bleacher Report — he lists Duke as one of the notable blue-bloods to have reached out.

Mike Krzyzewski ordered the scouting of Holmgren over the summer and then sent part of his staff to the state that has of late gifted Durham nearly one five-star per year — Tyus Jones, Gary Trent Jr., Tre Jones, and Matthew Hurt — to visit the 7-foot, 190-pound unicorn on stilts (247Sports still lists Duke as “interested”).

As for No. 5, Sandy Creek (Ga.) power forward Jabari Smith Jr. (the namesake of the former LSU center who played five seasons in the NBA) has attracted Duke basketball visitors this weekend, according to On The Radar Hoops’ Shun Williams.

A couple of Coach K’s cohorts were also in to see Smith Jr. back in September. So the return trip on Saturday suggests an invite to become a Blue Devil could be just around the corner. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound versatile stat collector screams potential — obvious from watching the inside look below from SUVtv — with limbs like granddaddy longlegs and hands like catcher’s mitts.

The Duke contingent has certainly been on a 2021 offer spree this week. Andrews Osborne Academy (Ohio) center Charles Bediako, who ranks No. 39, landed one on Monday. Briarcrest Christian (Tenn.) point guard Kennedy Chandler, who ranks No. 15, picked his up on Tuesday. And Coach K’s call on Wednesday to Paul VI Catholic (Va.) shooting guard Trevor Keels, who ranks No. 35, capped off the three-day offer streak.

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All this action comes despite the Blue Devils already boasting the nation’s only five-star 2021 commit: Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) small forward A.J. Griffin, who ranks No. 8. Plus, like the nation’s top three juniors, Rolling Meadows (Ill.) shooting guard Max Christie, who ranks No. 13, has held a Duke offer for months.

Summarizing, Coach K has dished out eight 2021 offers. One has resulted in a top 10 commitment. All are to guys in the top 40. Three are to the top three. A ninth to No. 5 seems imminent. And a 10th to No. 4 is conceivable.

So with a forecasted end in 2022 to the NBA rule requiring draft entrants to be one year removed from high school, Coach K looks to be chasing what could be his final and most epic one-and-done high.

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