Duke basketball: Five-star recruit hints at destination

There’s now another reason to think Duke basketball will land Trevor Keels.

Late Monday night, Paul VI (Va.) shooting guard Trevor Keels appeared in an Instagram Live chat alongside one 2021 signee apiece for the Duke basketball program and its Kentucky basketball counterpart.

The future Blue Devil? O’Dea (Wash.) five-star power forward Paolo Banchero. The future Wildcat? Wasatch Academy (Utah) four-star point guard Nolan Hickman.

Just the fact that Keels took part in a public conversation with a Duke and Kentucky recruit should provide fans of both those schools at least some level of hope in the final days of the five-star’s recruitment.

Nevertheless, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound multidimensional backcourt weapon, who ranks No. 20 overall on the 247Sports 2021 Composite, also has two other finalists in Villanova and Virginia. Keels recently scheduled his decision day for this coming Sunday.

Now, even though Keels never came close to actually divulging his destination when speaking to Banchero and Hickman, the 18-year-old appeared to drop another hint at his college choice by noting that the team he soon commits to will be a powerhouse next year.

That sure seems to best describe the next squad in Durham. After all, of the four remaining suitors, only the Duke Blue Devils will be welcoming top 10 talent. And they, in fact, have two such pieces in store: Banchero, who ranks No. 3, plus Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) five-star small forward AJ Griffin, who sits No. 7 overall.

Furthermore, three former five-stars seem likely to return as Duke sophomores in point guard Jeremy Roach, combo guard DJ Steward, and center Mark Williams. Finally, adding that Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels were high school teammates, it makes sense the 247Sports Crystal Ball shows the Blue Devils holding what it sees as a fairly commanding lead.

Potential TV announcement for the Duke basketball recruiting target

Again, Trevor Keels has already set his announcement date for Sunday. Meanwhile, the ALL-MET ELITE Twitter account recently reminded folks that the sharpshooter will be competing on the same day in the 2021 American Family Insurance High School 3-Point Championship.

As noted in the tweet, the showcase, which will also feature a dunk contest, is on tap for 1:30 p.m. ET with CBS airing the action.

Putting two and two together, it’s easy to suspect that Keels might use this opportunity to unveil his selection on national television. So Duke basketball fans may want to tune in.

Currently, Paolo Banchero and AJ Griffin are the Blue Devils’ only two 2021 prizes.

In addition to the decision from Trevor Keels, Duke is awaiting answers from two more high school seniors: Hamilton (Wis.) five-star small forward Patrick Baldwin Jr. and IMG (Fla.) four-star center Charles Bediako.