Duke basketball staff must seal deal with triple-double machine

Duke basketball recruiting target Trevor Keels has been filling box scores.

Unlike decades past, knockdown 3-point shooters have been at a premium in the Duke basketball program these past few seasons, including the current one. And the only consistent weapon from downtown right now, sophomore stretch-four Matthew Hurt, is likely pro-bound come spring.

Plus, although the Blue Devil staff has already reeled in two of the top seven talents on the 247Sports 2021 Composite in five-star forwards Paolo Banchero and AJ Griffin, neither is known for being lights-out beyond the arc.

With that in mind, the homestretch pursuit of pure sniper Trevor Keels, who ranks No. 20 among high school seniors, is of the utmost importance to the 2021-22 roster assembly in Durham.

At the moment, although the 247Sports Crystal Ball and Rivals FutureCast both favor Duke to land Keels, the Paul VI (Va.) five-star himself continues to contend he’s still considering Villanova and Virginia as well while eyeing a final decision within the next few months.

More than just a potential Duke basketball sharpshooter

During a 124-71 home win over Good Counsel (Md.) on Friday, Trevor Keels once again put his versatility on full display by compiling his third triple-double in a row. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound sturdy shooting guard totaled 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, adding in three steals to show his prowess isn’t limited to one end of the floor.

Across the two previous outings, also blowout victories, Keels combined for 39 points, 21 rebounds, and 21 assists.

Then on Saturday, despite his team’s 89-77 road loss to DeMatha (Md.), Keels refused to come back to earth one iota in the triple-double department. This time, the 17-year-old finished with 36 points, 10 boards, and 10 dimes.

Needless to say, the eventual winner of the Trevor Keels race is in for an all-around treat.

Duke also remains in the mix for two more 2021 five-stars in small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. and center Charles Bediako, who rank No. 4 and No. 26 overall in the class, respectively.

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