Duke basketball: Class of 2023 five-star cuts Blue Devils from Top-5

A five-star Class of 2023 prospect is no longer considering the Duke basketball program. 

It has been a tremendous start for the Duke basketball program in the Class of 2023 but one five-star prospect has eliminated the Blue Devils from its Top-5 finalists.

Matas Buzelis, a five-star small forward from Brewster Academy, narrowed his list with On3Sports which includes Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida State, Wake Forest, and the NBA’s G-League Ignite.

Buzelis is ranked as the No. 7 player in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, and the No. 3 small forward and No. 1 player in the state of New Hampshire.

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In addition to Duke, the 6-foot-10 forward cut Arizona, Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, UCLA, and Kansas from his list.

The Blue Devils had a five-man recruiting class in 2023 prior to the reclassification of five-star combo guard Tyrese Proctor into the Class of 2022, but Duke is still sporting five-star power forward Mackenzie Mgbacko, five-star power forward Sean Stewart, five-star point guard Caleb Foster, and four-star shooting guard Jared McCain.

Head coach Jon Scheyer recently extended an offer to Class of 2023 power forward Xavier Booker, the No. 78 player in the class.

Duke basketball rivals could challenge for top spot in 2023

The Blue Devils still hold the top ranking in the Class of 2023 despite the departure of Tyrese Proctor from the haul, but the North Carolina Tar Heels are right behind Duke in the recruiting rankings.

North Carolina as the No. 2 class in the country with five-star prospects GG Jackson and Simeon Wilcher committed to head coach Hubert Davis.

ALSO READ: Duke makes another addition to its roster

The recruiting team at On3Sports believes to think that there could be a recruiting battle brewing between the Heels and Kentucky Wildcats for the services for Matas Buzelis as the Wildcats, which only has one committed player in the 2023, have the No. 12 class in the country.

There has not been a timetable for a commitment discussed for Matas Buzelis but Duke basketball fans probably will pay attention where the top prospect lands despite his lack on interest in the Blue Devils.