Premier Duke basketball target denies two rumors, talks timeline

A key Duke basketball recruiting race continues as false gossip multiplies.

Going back months now, the loudest chatter regarding the ongoing battle for Hamilton (Wis.) small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. has remained the same. Yes, most of the recent noise has suggested the Duke basketball staff and the five-star’s father, Milwaukee Panthers head coach Pat Baldwin, represent the clear-cut leaders.

However, according to the latest word from Baldwin Jr. himself, that conclusion is no longer quite so clear.

Instead, it now seems there could be a handful or more of real contenders among the 10 finalists that Baldwin Jr. named back in May: Duke, Georgetown, Kentucky, Michigan, Milwaukee, Northwestern, North Carolina, UCLA, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The 6-foot-10, 205-pound sniper, who now ranks No. 3 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite and has held an offer from Duke basketball legend Mike Krzyzewski for 2.5 years, clarified the status of his recruitment during a chat this week with SI insider Jason Jordan. While some have even said the fight is down to Milwaukee and Northwestern, Baldwin Jr. hushed all such whispers:

“It’s weird because I just feel like people just straight make things up. I’ve never said it’s a two-horse race, so, of course, that’s not true. I mean, I could see where the speculations came from. I mean, Duke offered me when I was a freshman, and my dad is obviously at Milwaukee. It’s definitely not a two-horse race, but they’re definitely strong candidates.”

So when will the Duke basketball chase for Patrick Baldwin Jr. finally end?

Due to what Jordan described as “torn ligaments and bruising in his ankle” that Baldwin Jr. sustained earlier this month in the second game of his senior year, the 18-year-old is expecting to be out of action for a few months. Meanwhile, the coveted phenom has increased the frequency of his conversations with suitors and revealed to Jordan the likeliest timeframe for a decision:

“I’ve been talking to coaches pretty much every day, whereas before I was doing it once or twice a week. I don’t have a timeline for a decision, but February or March sounds the most realistic. That’s about as far out as I’ll push it. I’m just enjoying the conversations with the coaches right now; they’re so interesting…I definitely don’t know [my decision] right now.”

At this point, Coach K and his assistants boast a two-deep 2021 class. Both early signees are top-shelf five-stars: O’Dea (Wash.) power forward Paolo Banchero, who now ranks No. 2 overall, and Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) small forward AJ Griffin, who sits at No. 6.

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Right now, Patrick Baldwin Jr. is one of only three high school seniors remaining on the Blue Devil radar. The other two are also five-stars: Paul VI (Va.) shooting guard Trevor Keels, who ranks No. 17, and IMG (Fla.) center Charles Bediako, who ranks No. 24.

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