Duke basketball: No. 1 recruit to visit the Blue Devils

Duke basketball has secured a visit from one of the nation’s top prospects.

At the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts this Martin Luther King Jr. Day Weekend, there’s no hotter name than sophomore small forward Naasir Cunningham. And judging from multiple reports on Sunday night, it’s safe to say the 6-foot-7, 180-pound consensus five-star is building a significant relationship with the Duke basketball staff.

Per 247Sports national recruiting insider Eric Bossi and several others who spoke to the day’s headline star at the top-tier event, Cunningham will be in Durham for an unofficial visit with the Duke Blue Devils beginning Friday.

Although the 247Sports 2024 Composite is not yet available, the buzz surrounding the lengthy Cunningham and his oh-so-fluid playing style suggests he has as good a chance as any to debut in the top spot. Already, he ranks No. 1 overall in his class on the Rivals 150.

Potential Duke basketball paydirt from one New Jersey prep school

Naasir Cunningham stars for Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.). He does so alongside junior small forward Mackenzie Mgbako, a nugget that could spell good times ahead for Blue Devil head coach-in-waiting Jon Scheyer.

Mgbako, who ranks No. 3 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite, is currently near the center of Duke’s recruiting radar. Also, it’s worth pointing out that his Crystal Ball has been trending toward the Blue Devils ever since his official visit in early September.

As the suitors in Durham look to solidify their top-ranked status on both the 2022 and 2023 recruiting trails, no 2024 talents hold an offer from Duke.

Now, it sure wouldn’t be a shock at all if Naasir Cunningham soon became the first.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more on Naasir Cunningham plus other Duke recruiting news and views.