A recruiting race that has Duke basketball in the top five is about to end.
The Duke basketball program is hoping to hit the jackpot once again with a commitment from yet another top-tier prospect. The Patrick School (N.J.) grad Jonathan Kuminga, who tweeted on Friday that he’ll unveil his decision on Thursday at 2 p.m. EST, is the No. 1 player on the 247Sports 2021 Composite. But there is a belief that he will reclassify to 2020 since he already has a diploma.
Kuminga announced in May that his finalists are Duke, Auburn, Texas Tech, Kentucky, and the G League. Although the Blue Devils are an option, there hasn’t been any reported contact from Mike Krzyzewski and his staff as of late, and some are concerned that the major crop of talent coming to Durham for the 2020-2021 season could be a turn-off for the Congo native.
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Despite the incoming talent, with a prospect as skilled and talented as Kuminga, there should always be a roster spot available. To put things in perspective, the 6-foot-9, 225-pound small forward was rated a perfect 1.000 by 247Sports. There are only six other players who have ever received that rating: LeBron James, Greg Oden, Dwight Howard, Andrew Wiggins, RJ Barrett, and Emoni Bates.
This past season, Kuminga averaged 16.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Although his numbers aren’t spectacular, what he’s able to do on the court, combined with his potential, are ingredients for a special player.
According to the 247Sports Crystal Ball, there is a 100 percent chance that he will opt for the professional route. With five-star 2020 prospects such as Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd, and Daishen Nix going down that path, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Kuminga followed. However, Duke fans know first-hand that anything is possible.
Duke basketball targets have proven insiders wrong before
In January 2018, it was widely believed that Zion Williamson would be taking his talents to Clemson prior to his announcement. At the time, 247Sports predicted there was an 86.7 percent chance that he would choose the Tigers. We all know what eventually transpired. The same could potentially happen with Kuminga.
As the basketball world awaits to see the fate of another generational player, Duke optimists can at least hope that Kuminga will shock the experts by becoming a part of The Brotherhood.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting news and views.