Duke basketball challenging Kentucky as top suitor for five-star
By Matt Giles
Duke basketball is putting in work for one uniquely talented 2023 prospect.
Brewster (N.H.) small forward Matas Buzelis recently told Pro Insight director of scouting Andrew Slater that the Duke basketball coaches and their Kentucky basketball counterparts are the most active callers in his recruitment. However, he’s neither received an offer from the Wildcats nor put out a list of favorites; that said, he scheduled an official visit to Lexington two weeks from now.
The 6-foot-10, 175-pound Lithuanian intends to schedule an official visit with the Duke Blue Devils as well, according to his chat last week with Jamie Shaw of Rivals. His only two official visits to date were to Wake Forest and Florida State.
While Buzelis has yet to provide an exact timeline for making a decision, he explained to Shaw precisely what he’s looking for most in a college destination:
“I am looking for a program with a coach I can lean on. This decision, this choice is bigger than basketball for me, so just having that connection is very important.”
A Duke basketball recruiting target with a wealth of potential
Matas Buzelis, a five-star recruit who sits No. 12 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite, should eventually benefit from added strength as he fills out his long-limbed frame. At this point, though, the 17-year-old’s silky perimeter game is nothing short of impressive for his size and age. And due to a notably high shooting release, his jumper sometimes appears almost unguardable.
Another Brewster five-star junior on both the Duke basketball and Kentucky basketball recruiting radars is Taylor Bowen, a 6-foot-9, 185-pound small forward who ranks No. 23 overall in the class.
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Currently, Duke enjoys one 2023 pledge in five-star point guard Caleb Foster. Meanwhile, per 247Sports, the staff in Durham has offers on the table to seven others: Buzelis, Bowen, five-star shooting guard Jared Mccain, five-star small forward Mackenzie Mgbako, five-star small forward JJ Taylor, five-star power forward Gregory Jackson, and four-star power forward Sean Stewart.