Duke basketball potentially eyes recruiting package deal

The Duke basketball program could be looking for a recruiting package deal. 

Commitments in the Class of 2024 are barren for the Duke basketball program but two recruiting targets are talking of a potential package deal.

On3 recruiting insider Jamie Shaw spoke with Dylan Harper at Peach Jam to update his recruitment and the New Jersey prep star is thinking about playing at the college level with another Jersey guard.

“I’ve been talking with Naas Cunningham about going to school together,” Harper told Shaw.

Harper, guard at Don Bosco Prep (NJ), is ranked as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2024 and the No. 33 player in the country, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

The 6-foot-4 guard is the No. 2 combo guard in his class and the No. 2 player in the state of New Jersey, only trailing Cunningham.

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Duke has watched Harper multiple times on the EYBL circuit but has not officially extended an offer like Auburn, Georgetown, Indiana, Missouri, Rutgers, Texas Tech, and UCLA.

Naas Cunningham most recently played at Gil St. Bernard’s (NJ), the same program as Duke 2023 commit Mackenzie Mgbacko, but has made the decision to play for Overtime Elite next season while forgoing the salary the league offers to maintain his college eligibility.

Listed at 6-foot-7, the five-star small forward is ranked as the top player in 2024 and does hold an offer from the Blue Devils.

Dylan Harper has glowing review of Duke basketball program

Trying to land a commitment from Dylan Harper, should he be offered, will not be easy for Jon Scheyer as Harper’s brother, Ron Harper Jr., was a superstar at Rutgers for four seasons and his father, Ron Harper Sr., is a five-time NBA champion.

Dylan Harper told Jamie Shaw that he has developed the best relationships with the coaching staffs of Texas Tech, Rutgers, Indiana, and Duke while the Scarlet Knights have been recruiting him the hardest.

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“The care they give you really sticks out. They give you love and support at all times. They’re going to call you and check up on you,” Harper said of the Blue Devils.

However, further comments by the prospect to On3 could hurt Duke’s chances given the firepower Scheyer has on the recruiting trail and his ability to land multiple top players in each class.

“I’ll be looking for a school that is going to let me be me. I want them to put the ball in my hands and let me get places. I want to be a main guy on the team, not fourth or fifth fiddle.”

Since Jon Scheyer became the head coach at Duke, the program has cultivated the top ranked recruiting classes in 2023 and 2023 while still looking for its first pledge in the Class of 2024.