New name to know as Duke basketball scrambles for 2021 talent

As 2021 options continue to dwindle, Duke basketball is widening its scope.

The Duke basketball staff has only one pledge from the current crop of rising seniors; albeit, five-star small forward AJ Griffin remains the highest-ranked player off the board at No. 6 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite. Now, as of Monday’s commitment from four-star Samson Johnson to UConn, more than half of the top 100 have ended their recruitments, roughly doubling the amount from this point in the 2020 cycle.

Meanwhile, seeing the Blue Devils need at least three more pieces in their haul, it’s odd only six offers remain on the table, some of which seem all but certain to end in rejection. Furthermore, the short offer sheet indicates dangerous expectations when noting all six are to top 20 five-stars: point guard Kennedy Chandler, shooting guard Trevor Keels, small forward Caleb Houstan, small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr., power forward Paolo Banchero, and center Charles Bediako.

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With that in mind, it makes sense Mike Krzyzewski and his crew are showing interest, per Jake Weingarten of Stock Risers, in the No. 33 overall prospect: Fenwick (Ill.) power forward Bryce Hopkins, who decommitted from Louisville on Sunday in light of foreseeable sanctions against the Cardinals. It makes more sense considering the 6-foot-7, 220-pound four-star hails from Northeast Illinois, a hotbed for Duke recruiting ever since a Chicago native took over in 1980.

Competition Duke basketball could face

Weingarten reported Kentucky, Virginia, and many others have also reached out to Hopkins. No Crystal Ball picks exist for the potential stretch-four, suggesting a wide-open race. As for what Duke could expect if it extends an offer and manages to come out on top, here’s the scouting report from former 247Sports insider Evan Daniels:

“Hopkins is best utilized as a face-up forward, but he has the skill to play out on the perimeter … impressive feel for the game, a good skill set … an aggressive scorer … can score it from all three-levels … particularly effective out of the high post, where he can make plays off the dribble or make the right pinpoint pass … an active rebounder … On the flip side, Hopkins lacks consistency as a long-range threat … just an OK athlete.”

Even if Hopkins is just a backup plan, it shouldn’t hurt Duke to advance its pursuit.

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