2025 Men's Basketball Recruiting

" “I’m a playmaker and a shottaker,” Scott told On3 in a previous interview. “I like to get my teammates involved a lot, but when I get my own shot, I think I execute pretty well. I can play inside and out and have really deep range along with good post touches. Honestly, I watch a lot of Candace Parker, she is one of my favorite players. Her versatility with being tall and able to pass and shoot, I like watching her.” "

I think it's really cool that a young man is looking at a woman player as inspiration which is not that common. Things are changing and glad awesome female athletes are getting more and more recognition esp among young ones.





Update: any confusion this morning, at least here at DBR, will be about "When will the Boozer twins announce, if not today?" and not "What is Trilly Donovan trying to say about Miami?"

Donovan put up two GIFs this morning: one of Tom Izzo, and one of the Miami mascot. We already know that the latter GIF is about Ben Ahmed likely committing to Miami. As for the former GIF, I don't know who else is declaring today, but whoever he is, I guess he's going to Michigan State.

Edited to add: Found it. Jordan Scott (#73 RSCI) will decide later today between Maryland, Michigan State, and Virginia Tech.


Today I learned two things about Scott: he's at the same high school that Grant Hill attended, and he told On3 the following:
 
Today I learned two things about Scott: he's at the same high school that Grant Hill attended, and he told On3 the following:

" “I’m a playmaker and a shottaker,” Scott told On3 in a previous interview. “I like to get my teammates involved a lot, but when I get my own shot, I think I execute pretty well. I can play inside and out and have really deep range along with good post touches. Honestly, I watch a lot of Candace Parker, she is one of my favorite players. Her versatility with being tall and able to pass and shoot, I like watching her.” "

I think it's really cool that a young man is looking at a woman player as inspiration which is not that common. Things are changing and glad awesome female athletes are getting more and more recognition esp among young ones.

I think I would rather brag I was a shot maker rather than shot taker, but, well, I guess you go with what you got.
 
Wow, I didn’t realize it was $7-9M. I thought it was around $3M. That’s nuts!
In the NIL thread someone linked a Jeff Goodman comment that the bidding on Dybantsa had reached that $7-9M level.

That number feels a bit destabilizing and out of whack. I get that Ryan Smith is a billionaire so an extra few mil may not mean all that much to him but at some point you need to say, “does this still make any sense?”

Paying a kid more than what the #3 NBA draft pick will make is probably not making sense.

Also worth noting — what is the sense in bringing in AJ if you are not going to surround him with a few good teammates? You bring him in in the hope that your team can truly be relevant in the national championship hunt. So, if you’re going to spend $7 million on him, you should probably be prepared to spend at least another $5 million or so, on surrounding him with some quality teammates.
 
" “I’m a playmaker and a shottaker,” Scott told On3 in a previous interview. “I like to get my teammates involved a lot, but when I get my own shot, I think I execute pretty well. I can play inside and out and have really deep range along with good post touches. Honestly, I watch a lot of Candace Parker, she is one of my favorite players. Her versatility with being tall and able to pass and shoot, I like watching her.” "

I think it's really cool that a young man is looking at a woman player as inspiration which is not that common. Things are changing and glad awesome female athletes are getting more and more recognition esp among young ones.
His mom was a fairly prominent player - she also played at South Lakes, four years ahead of Grant Hill, and was a very successful player at Maryland. She played professionally in Europe (pre-WNBA) and has done coaching and broadcasting. His father was a good player at Miami from 88-92 (pre-ACC). Nice job by Izzo raiding the DMV.

 
Also worth noting — what is the sense in bringing in AJ if you are not going to surround him with a few good teammates? You bring him in in the hope that your team can truly be relevant in the national championship hunt. So, if you’re going to spend $7 million on him, you should probably be prepared to spend at least another $5 million or so, on surrounding him with some quality teammates.
One possible reason to give Dybantsa that much, even if the team isn't all that good, is as an investment for the future. Dybantsa should go #1 in the NBA Draft in 2026. I imagine that will be mentioned in every recruitment BYU has for the foreseeable future.
 
" “I’m a playmaker and a shottaker,” Scott told On3 in a previous interview. “I like to get my teammates involved a lot, but when I get my own shot, I think I execute pretty well. I can play inside and out and have really deep range along with good post touches. Honestly, I watch a lot of Candace Parker, she is one of my favorite players. Her versatility with being tall and able to pass and shoot, I like watching her.” "

I think it's really cool that a young man is looking at a woman player as inspiration which is not that common. Things are changing and glad awesome female athletes are getting more and more recognition esp among young ones.
I posted about Jordan Scott earlier this year, after a very nice profile in the Washington Post. I met Jordan last spring, when a mutual friend introduced us. Seemed like a nice young man. I thought he had committed to Indiana, but perhaps he changed his mind.

He did groan when our mutual friend explained I was a Duke guy, as did another friend standing nearby. I told them that I took the sound as the sound of respect, and our mutual friend, who played at Georgetown, agreed that it was respect.
 
Boozers seem to be creeping towards an announcement, perhaps today. Two guys who deserve the utmost respect (and who are not web site guys) feel very confident about Duke...they both have very good reputations and don't chime in unless they have something substantive to say.
They post on the Devils Den Premium board...take that as you wish.
 
I've compiled a list of 2025's top recruits... to see how close or far they are to commitment. I'll include whether they have a Duke offer (according to Verbal Commits) and/or any finalists they've announced.

With Duke receiving a commitment this morning -- two, actually -- it seems like a good time to update the top 50 recruits in the 2025 class, using RSCI, an industry composite of rankings from 247 Sports, ESPN, On3, and Rivals. 22 players on this list have now declared a destination. If there's any news about when a player plans to announce, I've included it below.

01. AJ Dybantsa (6-8 SF): Duke offer, BUT 6 finalists are Alabama, Auburn, BYU, Kansas, Kansas State and UNC
02. Cameron Boozer (6-9 PF): committed to Duke 10/11/2024
03. Darryn Peterson (6-5 SG): 4 finalists are Kansas, Kansas State, Ohio State, and USC (will announce 11/1)
04. Caleb Wilson (6-9 PF): Duke offer, AND 12 finalists are Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Duke, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oregon, Tennessee, UCF, UNC, and USC
05. Koa Peat (6-8 PF): Duke offer, AND 10 finalists are Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Duke, Houston, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, UCLA, and UNC
06. Meleek Thomas (6-3 SG): Duke offer, BUT 7 finalists are Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Connecticut, Kansas, Kansas State, and Pittsburgh
07. Darius Acuff (6-1 PG): committed to Arkansas 7/26/2024
08. Nate Ament (6-9 SF): Duke offer
09. Jalen Haralson (6-6 SF): committed to Notre Dame 9/25/2024
10. Isiah Harwell (6-5 SG): committed to Houston 9/12/2024
11. Jasper Johnson (6-4 SG): committed to Kentucky 9/5/2024

11. Mikel Brown Jr (6-3 PG):
13. Chris Cenac (6-10 PF): 7 finalists are Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Houston, Kentucky, LSU, and Tennessee
14. Brayden Burries (6-4 CG): Duke offer
15. Bryson Tiller (6-9 PF): 4 finalists are Auburn, Georgia Tech, Indiana, and Kansas (will sign in November)
16. Trey McKenney (6-4 SG): 3 finalists are Georgetown, Michigan, and USC
17. Darius Adams (6-4 SG): committed to Connecticut 9/30/2024
18. Cayden Boozer (6-3 PG): committed to Duke 10/11/2024
19. Tounde Yessoufou (6-5 SF):
committed to Baylor 10/2/2024
20. Sadiq White (6-8 PF): committed to Syracuse 5/29/2024

21. Dwayne Aristode (6-7 SF): Duke offer, AND 5 finalists are Arizona, Duke, Michigan State, USC, and NBL Australia
21. Kingston Flemings (6-3 PG): 5 finalists are Arkansas, Gonzaga, Houston, Texas, and Texas Tech
23. Nikola Bundalo (6-9 PF): 4 finalists are Connecticut, Michigan State, Ohio State, and UNC
23. Braylon Mullins (6-4 SG): Duke offer, BUT 3 finalists are Connecticut, Indiana, and UNC (will announce 10/23)
25. Malachi Moreno (7-0 C): committed to Kentucky 8/16/2024
26. Hudson Greer (6-6 SG): committed to Creighton 9/13/2024

26. Shelton Henderson (6-6 SF): Duke offer, AND 3 finalists are Duke, Louisville, and Texas
28. Davion Hannah (6-5 CG): 9 finalists are Alabama, Cincinnati, Louisville, Michigan State, NC State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Xavier
28. Jerry Easter (6-4 CG):
30. Nikolas Khamenia (6-8 SF): Duke offer, AND 5 finalists are Arizona, Duke, Gonzaga, UCLA, and UNC
31. Jacob Wilkins (6-8 SF): committed to Georgia 10/31/2023
32. Kiyan Anthony (6-5 SG): 3 finalists are Auburn, Syracuse, and USC
33. Jamier Jones (6-6 SF): committed to Providence 5/12/2024
34. Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-8 PF): 8 finalists are Auburn, Baylor, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Purdue, SMU, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt
35. Xavion Staton (7-0 C): 4 finalists are BYU, Michigan, Stanford, and UNLV (will announce 11/4)
36. Acaden Lewis (6-3 PG): Duke offer, AND 3 finalists are Connecticut, Duke, and Kentucky
37. Shon Abaev (6-7 SF):
38. Davis Fogle (6-5 SG): committed to Gonzaga 7/4/2024
39. Eric Reibe (7-0 C): 5 finalists are Connecticut, Creighton, Indiana, Kansas, and Oregon
40. Kayden Mingo (6-1 CG):
41. London Jemison (6-7 PF): committed to Alabama 9/21/2024
42. John Clark (6-9 PF): 6 finalists are Houston, Kansas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M
43. Jaden Toombs (6-9 C): committed to SMU 9/25/2024
44. Elzie Harrington (6-5 SG): committed to Harvard 6/13/2024
45. Alex Lloyd (6-3 SG): committed to Florida 4/17/2024
46. King Grace (6-2 PG): committed to Mississippi State 9/15/2024
47. Nyk Lewis (6-1 PG): committed to Xavier 8/29/2024

48. Chris Nwuli (6-7 PF): 6 finalists are Louisville, San Diego State, TCU, UCLA, USC, and Utah
49. Joshua Lewis (6-6 SF): committed to South Florida 5/14/2024
50. Mazi Mosley (6-5 SG): committed to LSU 9/30/2024
 
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I posted this 247 Sports video in the Welcome to Duke thread for the Boozer twins, but Adam Finkelstein also speculates on the (domino) effect of their commitment on Acaden Lewis and Dwayne Aristode. Go to about the 3:50 mark, or read the transcribed portion below.


"They are recruiting other guards. They're going to need to rebuild this backcourt because it's very possible that everyone leaves after this season. But there are some dominoes at play. Guys like Acaden Lewis, who had been on campus. How does he feel now that Cayden Boozer is in the mix? Is that going to impact his pursuit of him? They're also in the mix for a wing, Dwayne Aristode, who is expected to make his commitment perhaps as early as today. Now, there's some been some recent intel that Arizona could be surging there, but this is a Duke class that is not done in any way, shape or form."

News to me. I'm no insider, but I haven't seen any reports about Aristode scheduling an announcement. And JasonEvans wrote yesterday (post #1013 in this thread) that "Acaden's dad told me they have no problem coming to Duke and playing alongside Cayden Boozer. It is not even a mild concern as far as they are concerned as Acaden's skill set easily allows him to play either guard position."
 
Unless they both blow up into first round picks, I'm betting Jon brings back one of Foster or Proctor as PG next year with Cayden having an apprentice year. Duke and our collective can put together an offer that is a lot more attractive than a second round pick and the G League.

IF we can now land our three CTC attendees, next year's roster could be just as deep and competitive as this year.

PG: Foster/Proctor, Cayden Boozer
SG: Harris, Acaden Lewis
SF: Evans, Sheldon Henderson
SF/PF: Nate Ament
PF: Cameron Boozer
PF/C: Brown
C: Ngongba

We probably won't get them all and there could be a transfer or two, so the portal will also come into play. Agreed a 3* C would be a great addition too as the frontcourt could be empty after next year.
 
After listening to just about everything Jon has said this offseason, I would say my annual quixotic dream of a nine or ten-player rotation has gone the way of academic (or really any) integrity at UNC. And while I don't doubt what Jason observed, I feel he's off with his projection. Like the sun rising in the east, Duke will have an eight-player rotation. It may deviate from a typical Duke eight-player rotation in which players constitute those eight players on a game-to-game basis. You can write Tyrese, Caleb, Cooper, and Khaman in ink. The other four spots may be much more fluid. I also can't see anyone not named Tyrese, Caleb, or Cooper playing more than 25 minutes a night.
 
Maybe the portal would be the way to go to add some experience.

If you are building a roster around Cameron, you got his brother at the point. would a soph Harris be able to play the other guard spot? Neither Harris nor Cayden have great footspeed, i'm not sure you want potential defensive issues out front. And I don't know that another freshman guard would be the answer. Maybe two Sion type transfers. Not that transfers as good as Sion grow on trees but i like the idea of a transfer who knows who he is and is an established commodity. I guess a greshman as the backup to the 1/2 could work.

I think Evans could handle the three. Another transfer/freshman for a backup. could Ament or Henderson work here. They are proably too highly ranked to come off the bench.

Cameron has the 4 locked up. Brown could backup the 4 or maybe play the 5 if Ngongba II isn't able to go.

Will Ngongba II be healthy enough to go at the 5? He has had a lot of injuries. I think you operate thinking that you need to get a starter at the 5. I'd look more for a transfer (see above reasons). Though maybe Brown could work here?
 
Unless they both blow up into first round picks, I'm betting Jon brings back one of Foster or Proctor as PG next year with Cayden having an apprentice year. Duke and our collective can put together an offer that is a lot more attractive than a second round pick and the G League.

IF we can now land our three CTC attendees, next year's roster could be just as deep and competitive as this year.

PG: Foster/Proctor, Cayden Boozer
SG: Harris, Acaden Lewis
SF: Evans, Sheldon Henderson
SF/PF: Nate Ament
PF: Cameron Boozer
PF/C: Brown
C: Ngongba

We probably won't get them all and there could be a transfer or two, so the portal will also come into play. Agreed a 3* C would be a great addition too as the frontcourt could be empty after next year.
As much as I would like it, I have a tough time seeing both Pat and Maliq on next year's roster. It seems like both may want more of an opportunity.
 
If everyone we expect to stay stays next year, I did say we're done in terms of high-impact freshmen recruits. Just need a few more 4 stars or impact transfers to get our final roster over 10 players.


Patrick Ngongba
Carlos Boozer
Isiah Evans
Caleb Foster
Cayden Boozer

Maliq Brown
Darren Haris
 
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