The Duke basketball coaching staff remains hard at work with recruits.
The Duke basketball coaching staff is currently focused on its next commitment as it surveys and hosts many prospects throughout the summer.
However, the question remains who that next commitment will be?
The program has already landed verbal pledges from 5-star forward Isaiah Evans and 4-star guard Darren Harris and with both wings already under wraps in the Class of 2024, the need for other high volume scoring players might not be as critical as some previously thought.
Now, let’s examine the three players with the highest probability of being the next prospects to commit to Duke.
Five-star combo guard Dylan Harper remains the biggest fish on the Duke recruiting boards.
The left-handed point guard is quoted as saying he will make a decision by the beginning of his senior season and the Blue Devils are in an excellent position to secure the services of a dynamic 6-foot-5 player.
The strongest competitors for his commitment appear to be Rutgers and Indiana, although Auburn and Kansas also make up his Top-5 finalists.
ALSO READ: Dereck Lively drafted and immediately traded
Harper is an incredibly cerebral playmaker who plays with pace and utilizes a high basketball IQ to make up for what he lacks in explosion. His recruitment has been active and with the Duke coaching staff consistently observing his performances whenever he takes the court, he is the top priority for Jon Scheyer.
Duke also remains infatuated with 5-star center Flory Bidunga.
The 6-foot-9 prospect is an absolute monster on the block and possesses a remarkable combination of speed, power, and agility, along with a good touch around the rim.
His jump shot is steadily improving and he has a set of strong hands that allows him to excel at rebounding and is a vertical spacer.
Bidunga’s ability to score inside, along with his shot-blocking capabilities, would make him a valuable addition to Duke’s roster, providing a reliable inside presence and defensive versatility.
The Blue Devils just formally extended an offer to Flory Bidunga during his official visit this week and it’s clear that the staff is prioritizing him.
Patrick Ngongba II is another fast rising center in the Class of 2024 that Duke seems very high on.
The prominent individual from Fairfax, Virginia took an official visit to Duke earlier June and it is widely reported that the visit was exceedingly successful.
Ngongba is a 6-foot-11 big man who can stretch the floor while being highly effective in the paint.
His exceptional performances in the EYBL circuit for Team Takeover caught the attention of Duke, and it’s no coincidence of the Blue Devil interest considering he plays alongside Darren Harris at Paul VI (Va.)
Current Duke senior captain Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels, a former one-and-done, also played for Team Takeover and Paul VI so the connection between Duke and those programs remain very strong.
Duke basketball coaching staff also targeting other to prospects
While it seems that Dylan Harper, Flory Bidunga, and Patrick Ngongba II are the main priorities for the Duke basketball coaches right now, the program is also targeting other highly rated recruits in the senior class like 5-star small forward Bryson Tucker.
Tucker is a dynamic wing that stands at 6-foot-6 and possesses a remarkable skill set.
He is renowned for his offensive prowess, where he displays his athleticism and slashing style, with a very good jump shot.
Despite not participating in AAU basketball, Tucker remains relatively known and recruited by plenty of high major schools.
Naas Cunningham was also once very high on the Blue Devil recruiting boards as the smooth wing announced that he will play his last year of high school at Southern California Academy.
ALSO READ: Dariq Whitehead returning home to play in New York City
Cunningham is a 6-foot-8 wing that began his high school career in New Jersey and still has a multitude of skills.
His recruitment has been an interesting one since Duke offered him early, and Cunningham was quoted as listing Duke as his dream school.
However, there have been no reports of contact from the staff with Nass Cunningham as of late despite him listing Duke in his Top-5 finalists alongside Rutgers, Kansas, UCLA, and Memphis.
Tyler Betsey, a 6-foot-7 wing, also holds an offer from Duke and brings good size and versatility to the position.
He’s a very good shooter and a skilled player out of Connecticut but it seems highly probably that he will commit elsewhere due to the possible logjam at the wing position for the Blue Devils.
Stay tuned, as this could potentially be a really good recruiting class for Duke.