Duke basketball recruiting: Heated rivals dueling for 5-star

A high-profile recruiting battle may hinge on Duke basketball versus UNC.

As the Duke basketball squad awaits its Final Four foe from Sunday evening’s winner between archrival UNC and St. Peter’s, Ridge View (S.C.) junior power forward GG Jackson nears a decision on his destination after high school. Per Rivals national recruiting insider Rob Cassidy, who spoke with the 6-foot-9, 210-pound athletic five-star this weekend, it appears to be a two-team race:

“Barring some sort of Palmetto State magic, Jackson’s college recruitment is a Duke-North Carolina affair.”

That potential Palmetto State magic refers to new South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris, who hasn’t given up on the Gamecocks landing Jackson despite their dismissal of previous head coach Frank Martin earlier this month.

Cassidy continued:

“There are professional options in play. Jackson toured the Overtime Elite League facilities and got a final pitch from the OTE brass on Saturday and says he plans to consider what he heard. When he spoke about the Tar Heels and Blue Devils, however, things seemed more serious and a bit more detailed.”

Here’s what Jackson said to Cassidy about Duke:

“I haven’t spoken to Duke coaches in a while because they’re all pretty locked into the tournament, obviously. I have been communicating with the players, though. But with the players and coaches, it’s constant love and feedback.”

Timeline for Duke basketball’s next possible recruiting prize

GG Jackson, who ranks No. 8 overall on the 247Sports 2023 Composite, told Rob Cassidy that he plans to reveal his choice in the days following the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament next week. With that in mind, one must wonder if Duke or UNC could better its chances down the homestretch by cutting down the nets in New Orleans.

Currently, the 247Sports Crystal Ball sees the Blue Devils and Tar Heels in a dead heat with two expert picks apiece.

As things now stand on the 2023 recruiting trail, Duke sits No. 1 on the 247Sports Team Rankings with three heralded commits in tow: Oak Hill (Va.) five-star point guard Caleb Foster, Centennial (Calif.) five-star shooting guard Jared McCain, and Windermere (Fla.) four-star power forward Sean Stewart.

Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more Duke basketball recruiting news and views.