Another versatile forward has caught the eye of Duke basketball recruiters.
As soon as the 3-point line became a part of the college game in the late 1980s, Danny Ferry perfected the stretch-four role as a Duke basketball player. In the decades since the two-time ACC Player of the Year graduated, head coach Mike Krzyzewski has landed the likes of Kyle Singler, Ryan Kelly, and Matthew Hurt, keeping the position a staple of his program.
It’s conceivable that Grand Island (Neb.) power forward Isaac Traudt could be next in line. Though the four-star ranks only No. 55 overall on the 247Sports 2022 Composite — a bit lower than the aforementioned players in their respective classes — his stock is clearly on the rise.
And the staff in Durham has taken notice of Traudt’s multifaceted skill set. Per Jake Weingarten of Stock Risers, Duke is one of several high-majors to have recently reached out to the 6-foot-9, 200-pound junior.
Traudt, a contortionist around the rim who also exhibits a smooth outside trigger and a keen eye for open teammates, has long been on the radar of Midwestern schools, already holding roughly two dozen offers.
But in light of Traudt’s attention-grabbing outings this summer, it seems the secret is out to the entire nation, as ACC powerhouses Duke and Virginia are among the latest to have made contact (though neither has yet to extend an offer).
Here’s the summer scouting report on Traudt, who jumped 58 spots to No. 61 on the updated 2022 Rivals150, from Rivals analyst Eric Bossi:
“Traudt is lean and still needs to get stronger, but he sure fits the direction that college basketball is headed. He’s a skilled combo forward that shoots with range and handles the ball deftly. Because of that, he can play as either a big wing or as a skilled face-up forward.”
And here’s what Traudt told Bossi earlier this month in regards to his recruitment timeline:
“I’m going to keep it 100 percent open for at least a little bit longer because I don’t know what else might be out there for me. At some point, I’ll cut it down to maybe 10 or 12 schools to really look into.”
Sounds like there’s still time for Duke and others to enter the race.
Where Duke basketball’s 2022 efforts stand right now
While Duke’s 2022 offer sheet remains blank, a dozen or so prospects have heard from Krzyzewski’s bunch ever since coaches could begin directly contacting members of the class. Albeit, a couple of those have since put out lists that don’t include the Blue Devils.
ALSO READ: Three most intriguing 2022 prospects for Duke
There are, however, notable wide-open battles that Coach K & Co. may eventually join (for now, the primary focus is finalizing the 2021 haul). Some names on that list are IMG (Fla.) five-star point guard Jaden Bradley, Windward (Calif.) five-star power forward Kijani Wright, Oak Hill (Va.) five-star small forward MJ Rice, and La Lumiere (Ind.) four-star point guard JJ Starling.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting news and views.