Duke basketball: Analyzing the Dylan Harper recruitment saga

Duke basketball recruit Dylan Harper is still mulling his decision. 

There has been much to speculate about the Dylan Harper sweepstakes and many are still wondering where the Duke basketball recruiting prospect will go and when he will decide.

The 6-foot-6 lead guard from New Jersey has been on Jon Scheyer and the coaching staff’s radar for over a year, but their chances of procuring a commitment from him might be dwindling.

As of late, the Duke staff is going all in on VJ Edgecombe while still in the running for Harper’s services, who announced a Top-5 of Rutgers, Duke, Auburn, Kansas, and Indiana in January.

Edgecombe recently gained a couple of Crystal Ball predictions in Duke’s favor, signifying a shift in that recruitment.

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As far as Harper goes, there hasn’t been much to report lately and there have been no reports of Duke visiting Harper or the Blue Devils remaining in contact with him.

The recruitment process for a player of Harper’s caliber is complex and highly competitive. Several factors can influence a player’s decision, such as playing time, coaching staff, campus culture, and proximity to home.

The elite guard reminded everyone how good he is by dominating the Overtime Elite League this weekend and coaching staff’s do not just stop recruiting players like Harper, and that’s why it’s realistic to see Duke sticking around until the end.

Duke basketball with unique opponent in recruiting race

It’s not every day that you see a Duke vs. Rutgers recruiting battle, but this one is a little different and has different variables.

Family and location play a role in this, but the ultimate decision will rest on the alignment of Dylan Harper’s personal and basketball-related preferences.

Rutgers, however, does hold some advantages over Duke in this race as the Harper family strongly desires the 5-star guard to stay close to home and become a Scarlet Knight.

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Their wishes align with the fact that Steve Pikiell has also nurtured a significant relationship with Dylan. It’s worth noting that Pikiell coached Dylan’s older brother, Ron Harper Jr, during his time at Rutgers.

Many recruits, like Harper, often consider staying close to home when making their college choices, and Rutgers’ location in New Jersey aligns with this crucial factor. The proximity factor can play a pivotal role in a recruit’s decision-making process and, in Harper’s case, might be a compelling reason to consider Rutgers, given its relative closeness to his hometown.

As of now, we wait and see how this shakes out while remaining hopeful but it’s too close to offer a prediction or a timeline for his announcement.