The Duke basketball program has officially signed the final member of its recruiting class.
The recruitment of Isaiah Evans went fast after he was first offered by the Duke basketball program on March 26 and committed on April 27, signifying his love for the Blue Devils.
His commitment to Duke was initially met with widespread enthusiasm, but as the recruiting landscape unfolded, whispers of potential decommitment surfaced.
The reason?
Duke’s loaded recruiting class is very wing-heavy.
Amidst the speculation and rumors, Isaiah Evans made a decision that resonated with the coaching staff and fanbase of Duke, despite the allure of exploring other opportunities, Evans reaffirmed his commitment to the program and signed his National Letter of Intent on Monday.
JUST IN: North Mecklenburg High McDonald's All-American candidate and reigning NC Mr Basketball Isaiah Evans has signed with Duke
— Langston Wertz Jr. (@langstonwertzjr) November 13, 2023
📽️ @camwillsports
More coverage later via @theobserver pic.twitter.com/bLxOpxxbtu
Duke’s recruiting class currently ranks No. 1 in the country by all recruiting services after landing Cooper Flagg, Patrick Ngongba, Darren Harris, Kon Knueppel, and Evans.
ALSO READ: Duke slides in rankings after major shakeup
The Blue Devils are also still in the mix for Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe, although Edgecombe seems much more likely than Harper at this point.
Duke basketball recruit drawing comparisons to elite company
Isaiah Evans, sometimes refereed to as ‘Baby Brandon Ingram,’ is a dynamic wing from North Carolina who can score with the best of them. He excels in the open court, has an elite pull-up jumper, and is a tough shot-maker overall.
The need to score in space or tight situations is at a premium and this is another area in which Evans excels.
Physically, he is a 6-foot-6 player with extremely long arms and a wiry frame. He will need to add weight once he arrives on campus at Duke, which will help him transition to the college game.
Duke commit Isaiah Evans was cooking today at Top 100 Camp 🔥 @IsaiahEvans26
— Courtside Films (@CourtsideFilms) June 30, 2023
Had a single game performance of 28ts, 11reb and 9ast @Top100Camp pic.twitter.com/3PKuDtLQvR
There’s no doubt that Jon Scheyer will have a major challenge on his hands with making so many similar pieces fit, but as we see, this is Scheyer’s vision.
College basketball is a guards game, and he’s stockpiling elite ones.
ALSO READ: Jon Scheyer takes blame for loss to Arizona
The recruiting process can pave the way for a collective sense of unity and purpose. Isaiah Evans exemplifies the character and personality the Duke Brotherhood is searching for by remaining steadfast amid the storm.
The path ahead is set, and Evans will have a chance to set himself up for success with the possibility of winning a National Title and other accolades while at Duke.