Duke basketball target Charles Bediako implies Blue Devils still have shot

A top 2021 big man remains in play on the Duke basketball recruiting trail.

If the Duke basketball coaches thought they no longer had any chance at all to reel in a commitment from IMG (Fla.) center Charles Bediako, then one might think they would have directed their attention elsewhere.

Per Bediako himself, though, that’s not at all the case as he tries to pick between the five finalists he named in October: Alabama, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, and Texas. No, the 6-foot-11, 225-pound five-star, who ranks No. 26 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite, recently told Jamie Shaw of Rivals that even the Hall of Famer in Durham, Mike Krzyzewski, is still in direct contact:

“The coaching staff is great. I talk with Coach K. They tell me they are recruiting no one else but me [at center] right now. They like my motor and how I play. It makes me want to keep working.”

Granted, Bediako spoke highly of the other staffs in pursuit as well. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that both the 247Sports Crystal Ball and Rivals FutureCast peg Alabama as the clear frontrunner.

That said, Bediako’s delay down the homestretch of his recruitment sure does hint at an undecided race…

Timeline for the potential Duke basketball giant

Charles Bediako, who originally hails from Canada and has held a Duke basketball offer for more than a year but never saw the opportunity to officially visit the program, confirmed in his chat with Jamie Shaw that his decision process is taking a tad longer than he had once projected:

“I know I said I was supposed to commit in January. You know, stuff happened. I could commit at any moment now, but it will be at the latest March.”

It seems Bediako’s extensive homework on his possible destinations has contributed to the holdup:

“I have been doing a lot of research…You’ve got to look at academics, the people you are going to be around, your teammates, and how you get along. It also really comes down to trust, someone you feel comfortable with…”

Bediako’s current head coach at IMG, Chad Myers, explained to Shaw what sort of post prospect the winning school stands to enjoy:

“Charles is a Clint Capela-type of guy. He’s a rim-runner who protects the basket and gets to the dunker spot. He is working on becoming more of a pick-and-pop guy. Right now, he plays his best off other guys’ drives.”

Coach K and his assistants already boast two 2021 signees in five-star power forward Paolo Banchero and five-star small forward AJ Griffin, who rank No. 3 and No. 7, respectively, in the class.

And now with exactly two months left until the late signing period tips off on April 14, the Blue Devils are also continuing to chase after five-star small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. (No. 4) and five-star shooting guard Trevor Keels (No. 20).

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