Final predictions for Duke basketball’s remaining 2021 recruiting targets
By Matt Giles
Where will Duke basketball recruiting target Patrick Baldwin Jr. end up?
Across a span of more than two years, the Duke basketball program was the 247Sports Crystal Ball consensus leader for Hamilton (Wis.) small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr., a smooth sharpshooter who at one time ranked No. 1 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite but has since dropped to No. 4.
And the perception that the Blue Devils were clear frontrunners made sense. After all, way back in July 2018, head coach Mike Krzyzewski made clear his desire to reel in Baldwin when he made the 6-foot-10, 205-pound five-star the youngest in history to receive a Duke offer from him.
However, this February, the Crystal Ball suddenly shifted, now favoring Milwaukee head coach Pat Baldwin to ultimately enjoy the services of his highly touted son. Around the same time, the younger Baldwin implied his mind is made up when discussing the 10-team battle with Jason Jordan of SI:
“I think I know where I would like to go. So, I’m just kinda just sitting on it right now. I think in a few weeks or a few months, I’ll be able to say 100 percent. I’ll take as much time as I would like to.”
Now, while the Blue Devils do still own two of the eight Crystal Ball picks, it’s worth noting that no one has entered one for Duke since the summer of 2019.
The predicted landing spot for Patrick Baldwin Jr.: MILWAUKEE