Duke basketball: Blue Devils among finalists for key recruit

The Duke basketball staff now has only two to beat out for an A-list guard.

All in all, top-shelf Duke basketball sharpshooters have been fairly sparse across recent seasons. Of course, one way to correct this deficiency — and thereby return the title of “Shooter U” to Durham — is to lure in five-star snipers on the recruiting trail.

Enter Paul VI (Va.) shooting guard Trevor Keels, who sits No. 15 on the 247Sports 2021 Composite, largely due to his silky, swift trigger from deep. Wednesday night, Duke inched closer to landing the 6-foot-5, 210-pound weapon by winding up in his top three alongside Villanova and Virginia (he’s had 20 or so suitors, including several bluebloods, but this is his first list of favorites).

And this small number of finalists for Keels, who was a prep teammate the past two seasons to Blue Devil freshman point guard Jeremy Roach and has held a Duke basketball offer for more than eight months now, could be a sign that a final pick is on the horizon. Most insiders presume the 17-year-old intends to choose a college in time for the early signing period in November.

ALSO READ: Insider sees two-horse race for Trevor Keels

That said, the recruit and his family have been somewhat tight-lipped when it comes to either providing a decision timeline or hinting at a clear frontrunner. Further speaking to that, the 247Sports Crystal Ball for Keels still doesn’t contain a single expert prediction.

In addition to his frequent hot hand from 3-point land, Keels should provide the eventual winner of his recruitment with a versatile backcourt player who also has the size to hold his own inside the arc when necessary. Here’s the scouting report from 247Sports director of basketball scouting Jerry Meyer:

“Tremendous physical strength for a shooting guard. Has length as well. Plays a power game but can score from all three levels. Solid ball-handler. Good passer. Has the strength to be a better rebounder. Adequate defender.”

Duke basketball’s 2021 haul is shaping up to be an all-time treasure

Mike Krzyzewski and his gang have already hauled in two 2021 pledges: O’Dea (Wash.) power forward Paolo Banchero and Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) small forward AJ Griffin. Not only are Banchero and Griffin both five-star prospects, but with No. 3 and No. 6 composite rankings, respectively, they also represent the only two top 10 high school seniors yet off the board.

The Blue Devils, who boast four of the nation’s past seven No. 1 recruiting classes, are also still in pursuit of three others from the class, all top 25 five-stars: Hamilton (Wis.) small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr., who ranks No. 1 overall; Montverde (Fla.) small forward Caleb Houstan, who ranks No. 7; and IMG (Fla.) center Charles Bediako, who ranks No. 22.

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