Duke basketball: Blue Devils must survive recruit’s upcoming cuts

The Duke basketball staff seems on track to be on another five-star’s list.

Patrick Tape will expire his eligibility next season. Matthew Hurt is likely to bolt for the pro ranks following his upcoming sophomore campaign. It’s possible one or more of incoming freshmen Mark Williams, Henry Coleman, and Jaemyn Brakefield will also depart the Duke basketball program in the spring.

Put simply, head coach Mike Krzyzewski needs to secure at least two post players on the 2021 recruiting trail. At the moment, the 73-year-old has extended offers to only two such candidates: O’Dea (Wash.) five-star power forward Paolo Banchero and IMG Academy (Fla.) five-star center Charles Bediako.

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Banchero listed Duke among his six finalists in April but probably won’t announce a winner until next March at the earliest; plus, though Krzyzewski and his crew are certainly contenders, few experts see them as the favorites. As for Bediako, per a Wednesday tweet from Tipton Edits, the 6-foot-11, 220-pound Canadian plans to unveil his top 10 on Friday.

Here’s the scouting report on Bediako from 247Sports national recruiting analyst Josh Gershon:

“Mobile center with good size, long arms, and budding athleticism…a frame that should eventually carry a lot more weight…improved motor/competitiveness throughout high school…relatively raw on offense, but hands and feet don’t give serious limitations…can finish with both hands but prefers right…has made progress as rebounder and rim protector…a high-major starter with professional upside depending on skill development.”

Needless to say, it’s important for the Blue Devils to make the cut. That said, it would be quite a shock if they didn’t; after all, even some recruits who don’t hold offers from Coach K include Duke among their favorites for the publicity boost alone. But Bediako, who has jumped from No. 90 to No. 20 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite across the past year, has held an invite to join #TheBrotherhood ever since early December.

Furthermore, the Blue Devils met with Bediako via a virtual call in May and have seen success as of late with guys from IMG, where the big man recently announced he is transferring to from Andrews Osborne Academy (Ohio). Not only did Mark Williams suit up for the prep powerhouse as a senior, but also prized 2020 small forward Jalen Johnson was enrolled there for a spell last fall.

Which schools are likely to compete with the Duke basketball recruiters?

From the more than a dozen other programs that have delivered an offer to Bediako, those that likely figure to be a part of his top 10 for sure are longtime suitors Maryland, Ohio State, Illinois, and 247Sports Crystal Ball leader Alabama. Other notable pursuers are Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Louisville.

The 18-year-old at one time was considering a reclass to 2020, but his AAU coach, Dwayne Washington of UPlay Canada, recently told recruiting insider Adam Zagoria that Bediako intends to remain in high school one more year.

In addition to Bediako and Banchero, the other rising seniors seemingly at the center of the Duke basketball recruiting radar are also all five-stars: Hamilton (Wis.) small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr., Rolling Meadows (Ill.) shooting guard Max Christie, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) shooting guard Trevor Keels, and Sunrise Christian (Tenn.) point guard Kennedy Chandler.

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Thus far, the only 2021 talent who has committed to the Blue Devils is Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) small forward AJ Griffin, a five-star who boasts a No. 7 composite ranking.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting news and views.