Duke basketball: Ranking the final four for five-star recruit Caleb Houstan
By Matt Giles
Is Duke basketball at the back of the pack in its pursuit of Caleb Houstan?
It’s rare for a perceived frontrunner in a five-star race to unwillingly bow out before the home stretch. Yet that was the case for the North Carolina coaches this week as they saw their Duke basketball rivals perhaps swipe what might’ve otherwise been their seat among the four finalists for Montverde (Fla.) senior Caleb Houstan.
Plus, it’s rare for a prized prospect’s 247Sports Crystal Ball and Rivals FutureCast to both sit void of predictions the day after he has announced a shortlist. Yet that too was the case in the race for Houstan, a versatile, instinctive combo forward who ranks No. 8 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite.
Combining the above rarities, it’s obvious insiders don’t know much outside of what Houstan has said publicly and are timid to pick a winner between Alabama, Duke, Michigan, and Virginia. However, while uncertainty abounds regarding his destination, the 6-foot-8, 205-pound sniper noted to 247Sports insider Eric Bossi on Wednesday a near-certain timeframe for his decision:
“I would like to make a decision before my high school season starts, so that had a big impact on [naming a list]…That’s what I’m trying to go for. It’s not 100 percent, but I’m hoping to. I’m continuing to build relationships that I’ve already established. Now, I can dig a little deeper into how the schools can help me and how I can help them. That’s pretty much the two big things.”
So which of the four remaining contenders will ultimately receive Houstan’s help? Well, let’s look at what he’s recently said about each and what each program has to offer. And let’s do so while ranking them here in order of their chances to land the potential one-and-done lottery pick…