Ranking Duke basketball’s chances with five remaining 2021 targets
By Matt Giles
Analyzing Duke basketball recruiting races: Charles Bediako
The other Greater Toronto Area native currently holding a 2021 Duke basketball offer is IMG (Fla.) center Charles Bediako. Unlike Caleb Houstan, though, the 6-foot-11, 220-pound five-star has been a primary target of Mike Krzyzewski’s staff since December. And according to a recent article from Rivals insider Eric Bossi, some are tagging the Blue Devils as leaders for the relatively lightfooted big man:
“[One of the schools] that comes up most often for Bediako is Duke. In fact, there are many who believe that it is actually Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils that hold a bit of an edge for him — if anybody even really leads … For as much as many consider it to be a perimeter-oriented team, Duke has been willing to feature big guys in the past…you don’t have to look far to see the success Vernon Carey, Marvin Bagley, and Wendell Carter have recently had in Durham.”
On the other hand, luring Bediako to Tobacco Road is far from a certainty seeing that he only recently named favorites, including Duke but also consisting of nine other bonafide contenders: Alabama, Baylor, Maryland, Memphis, Michigan, Ohio State, Southern Cal, Tennessee, and Texas.
ALSO READ: Sizing up the 10 finalists for Charles Bediako
Of course, Coach K may have a strong hand to play in this battle seeing that current freshman Mark Williams is the program’s only possible returning center for the 2021-22 season. However, after rising 70 spots across the past year to No. 20 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite — by building on his post moves while learning to thrive off his length and athleticism — Bediako should feel confident in finding plenty of playing time wherever he lands.
All in all, considering 1) the minimal chatter coming from the Bediako camp, 2) the one measly Crystal Ball pick (Alabama), and 3) the lack of a specified timeline for choosing a college, how this race shakes out is truly anyone’s guess right now.
Chance of Duke basketball landing Charles Bediako? 19 percent