2025 Men's Basketball Recruiting

[DonerKebab]

Trevon was the PG on that Trent, Carter, Bagley team. He was always a bit unpredictable. I'll never forget his breakaway at CTC when he lobbed the ball to himself off the backboard for a spectacular dunk and Coach K lost his mind on the sideline

Add him to the list of over confident PG's that left despite advice and ended up wasting their talent due to not being ready both play wise and maturity/professionalism wise. I am confident with a few more years, he would have played in NBA for a while. But maybe there was more to it that I am not aware of.

 

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Bobby Hurley signs a 7 footer for next year, from . . . Iceland. https://www.byteseu.com/640496/
I hear he's explosive and could go off at any time.

Interesting. He is playing at a HS near Boston but last year he played in the "Iceland Subway League". I didn't know they had subways in Iceland. Or is it sponsored by Subway? So many questions.

 

[tommy]

Bobby Hurley signs a 7 footer for next year, from . . . Iceland. https://www.byteseu.com/640496/
I hear he's explosive and could go off at any time.

He's got more power than Hrafnbjargafoss. Don't mess with him.

 

[DavidBenAkiva]

Weren't there rumors about Duval having vision issues? I also seem to remember some mechanical adjustments to his shot mid season. Man, that team was loaded with talent..

Wasn't a rumor, it was a fact https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/21...n-duval-can-at-long-last-see-a-bright-future/

 

[sagegrouse]

I agree with this. When I use (or think of) the term "handed the keys," I think of Duke freshmen PGs who were recruited to, and unequivocally did, run the team from day-1. I don't offer that term lightly. Of Kedsy's list, the only players I would offer that term to are:

Greg Paulus (who held the keys from 2005 until at least 2008, when they were turned over to maybe Demarcus Nelson (non-freshman) and then phased into Jon Scheyer (non-freshman) )
Kyrie Irving, no question
Austin Rivers, kind of, although he clearly was not an optimal, prototypical PG
[lull as we turned to transfer Seth Curry and non-freshman Quinn Cook]
Tyus Jones, no question
[I would not include Derryck Thornton, who reclassed to help us out, but was simply too young/green to adequately run the team; and I think we knew that when we took him in, so would not say we "handed him the keys"]
[nor would I include Frank Jackson who ascended into a role as the season progressed]
Trevon Duval, who was uber athletic but not, what I would call, a prototypical PG
Tre Jones, barely but I'll give it to him
Jeremy Roach, is a tough call, he was indeed the nominal PG but did we really "give him the keys?" I guess we kinda did, but that was

So Paulus, Irving, Rivers, Jones, Duval, Jones, and maybe Roach.

Jay Will and Duhon were before my time, at least following recruiting and what we were truly intending with them ahead of their arrival.

- Chillin

Bobby Hurley, for sure.

 

[heyman25]

Anyone heard anything about Khamenia. Those horrible fires might have suspended a few games for Harvard Westlake. It’s San Fernando Valley side of Coldwater Canyon

 

[Nugget]

Anyone heard anything about Khamenia. Those horrible fires might have suspended a few games for Harvard Westlake. It’s San Fernando Valley side of Coldwater Canyon

Harvard-Westlake was supposed to play yesterday at the Clippers’ new arena as part of a triple-header along with the teams of class of 2026 #1 Tyran Stokes and #2 Brandon McCoy, but it wisely got postponed. Not sure about where his family lives or their specific fire risk.

 

[brevity]

There are 11 prospects left in the RSCI top 100 who have yet to commit to a school in fall 2025...

04. Caleb Wilson (6-9 PF): Duke offer, BUT 5 Finalists are Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee, UCF, and UNC (plans to announce in January)

08. Nate Ament (6-9 SF): Duke offer...

Of the above players, UNC only has offers to Wilson and Ament. If Wilson commits to Kentucky this month, as many would believe, UNC theoretically has time to shift their focus to Ament. They can even see him firsthand, from a short distance; he plans to attend the UNC-Duke game in Cameron on February 1.

On3 has some Nate Ament news: Duke is among his 11 finalists. (UNC is not. I'm sure they came in 12th.)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879529003889090718

Five-Star Plus+ SF Nate Ament considering 11 schools while announcing new NIL partnership

Five-Star Plus+ small forward Nate Ament has ten schools he is communicating with along with a new NIL partnership.

www.on3.com

Ament is officially considering Arkansas, BYU, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas, On3 is told.

Along with this announcement of schools, Ament is also announcing an official partnership with Fanstake. This is the five-star’s first equity NIL deal and a major step for Fanstake as they expand further into college basketball.

[On Duke:] “I’ve been down there a couple of times, so they’re making sure that I’m hearing their voice. And I hear from them a lot. They’re recruiting all these big-time freshmen and they’re turning them into good defenders, they’re like a top-10 defensive team in the country right now. They got length there, and I’m a lengthy guy, and they’re playing freshmen a lot which is very enticing just playing with a bunch of other freshmen who can play just like me.”

ZagsBlog says that Duke and Tennessee are the perceived favorites, and has more information about this Fanstake thing.

Top recruit Nate Ament signs with fan-driven NIL company | Zagsblog

By ADAM ZAGORIA Nate Ament, the No. […]

www.zagsblog.com

With Fanstake, fans from these [11 finalists] can actively participate in the recruitment process by pledging financial support—known as “stakes”—to show their desire to bring Ament to their school. If he commits, the funds will be used to finalize an authentic NIL endorsement deal. If he chooses another path, fans get 100% of their contributions back, ensuring a transparent and fair system.

“I’m proud to partner with Fanstake,” said Ament. “This platform gives fans a unique way to be part of the recruiting process, which is pretty cool. I’m still weighing my options for where I’ll play, and there’s a lot to consider, but it’s exciting to see how fans can get involved in helping me find the right fit.”

 

[azzefkram]

On3 has some Nate Ament news: Duke is among his 11 finalists. (UNC is not. I'm sure they came in 12th.)

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879529003889090718

Five-Star Plus+ SF Nate Ament considering 11 schools while announcing new NIL partnership

Five-Star Plus+ small forward Nate Ament has ten schools he is communicating with along with a new NIL partnership.

www.on3.com

ZagsBlog says that Duke and Tennessee are the perceived favorites, and has more information about this Fanstake thing.

Top recruit Nate Ament signs with fan-driven NIL company | Zagsblog

By ADAM ZAGORIA Nate Ament, the No. […]

www.zagsblog.com

This Fanstake thing is more than a little icky for me.

Ament seems like a great player, but if this is a factor in where he decides to play next season, I won't be heartbroken if he goes elsewhere.

 

[SkyBrickey]

The big news is that Nate has narrowed it to 11 schools this late in the cycle? That's amusing. I hope this is not a highest bidder scenario. If it is, I highly doubt Duke participates.

 

[FastBreak]

This Fanstake thing is more than a little icky for me.

Ament seems like a great player, but if this is a factor in where he decides to play next season, I won't be heartbroken if he goes elsewhere.

Agree this Fanstake thing is a real turnoff. Don’t know anything about him but we don’t need a diva on the team. All fine to maximize your earnings but this feels off.

 

[heyman25]

Nike Hoops Summit
Boozer Bros and Khamenia DUKE
Ament who knows

https://twitter.com/x/status/1879604497426907520

 

[Phredd3]

I hope this is not a highest bidder scenario. If it is, I highly doubt Duke participates.

Well, I sure as heck know that I'm not going to participate!

 

[camion]

Well, I sure as heck know that I'm not going to participate!

So, your interest in this is NIL?

 

[brevity]

RSCI top 100... is a collective industry ranking from last August, so there could be some 2025 recruits who have surged up the rankings of individual services since then...

Case in point: Mouhamed Sylla is not in the RSCI top 100, but On3 now has him #14 in the class of 2025 (and their #1 center), while 247 Sports ranks him at #29. Earlier today he committed to Georgia Tech over a pair of heavy hitters, Arkansas and Oregon.

It's weird to think of an incoming recruit cooling off a coach's hot seat, but that might be the case here. The three ACC second-year coaches -- Georgia Tech's Damon Stoudamire, Notre Dame's Micah Shrewsberry, and Syracuse's Adrian Autry -- could have each program-defining freshmen next season. (Irish have top 10 Jalen Haralson, while the Orange have Sadiq White and Kiyan Anthony.) Year 3 is going to be their test.

 

[bluedevilwildcats]

This Fanstake thing is more than a little icky for me.

Ament seems like a great player, but if this is a factor in where he decides to play next season, I won't be heartbroken if he goes elsewhere.

Fanstake was talked about in another thread a few weeks back, one of the key guys is a Duke alum (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellglass/)

I'm not sure I understand how this would work with Ament's college choice. Is he only going to go to whichever school's fans send him the most money? If that's how he's deciding where to go, I'd have zero interest in him joining next year's team.

The issue for top recruits like Ament is that schools can go find someone cheaper, who will stay longer, and probably be more effective via the portal.

 

[SkyBrickey]

Fanstake was talked about in another thread a few weeks back, one of the key guys is a Duke alum (https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellglass/)

I'm not sure I understand how this would work with Ament's college choice. Is he only going to go to whichever school's fans send him the most money? If that's how he's deciding where to go, I'd have zero interest in him joining next year's team.

The issue for top recruits like Ament is that schools can go find someone cheaper, who will stay longer, and probably be more effective via the portal.

No, not how it works.

This will be pennies compared to collective, university and sponsorship dollars. It's a dumb business idea.

 

[heyman25]

More press mania about Khamenia
He sounds like another unique character to play Duke basketball
David Lynch who passed away
Read his parents met at Duke University and used to live near the infamous Lacrosse house on Buchanan Blvd.

Duke Basketball Signee Nik Khamenia Embodies McDonald's All American Spirit

Acing all the criteria on and off the court, the 2025 Duke basketball whiz kid from LA should be an obvious choice for the top prep honor.

www.si.com

 

[brevity]

04. Caleb Wilson (6-9 PF): Duke offer, BUT 5 Finalists are Kentucky, Ohio State, Tennessee, UCF, and UNC (plans to announce in January)

On3’s Joe Tipton is reporting that Caleb Wilson is down to Kentucky, Ohio State, and UNC, and will announce next week:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1880323508733112414

 

[mo.st.dukie]

This Fanstake thing is more than a little icky for me.

Ament seems like a great player, but if this is a factor in where he decides to play next season, I won't be heartbroken if he goes elsewhere.

I don't know, to me it seems like it's always been this way, just in a more indirect way. The programs with the biggest and craziest fanbases typically are the ones with more money, whether that be from ticket sales, merchandise sales, or donations. Having more money meant better facilities, training equipment, playing gear, etc. which had always been important in recruiting. I think this is no different than a fan spending a lot of money on memorabilia directly from Duke or buying tickets and concessions or a big donor giving a lot of money for a new locker room or practice facility. Money always was a big factor in determining which programs are good and which are not, the only thing that has changed is the distribution of the money.