Blue Devil Country

Two Duke Basketball Players Recruiting Big Transfer to Durham

A new transfer out of Kansas could be Duke basketball's missing piece.

Matt Giles

Two Duke Basketball Players Recruiting Big Transfer to Durham
Two Duke Basketball Players Recruiting Big Transfer to Durham /
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Ernest Udeh Jr., a potential elite rim protector, seems to fit what the Duke basketball coaches hope to find in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-11, 250-pound center, a 2022 McDonald's All-American, entered the portal on Thursday — the last day to do so — following one season at Kansas.

And two 2023-24 Blue Devils took to Instagram to respond to his announcement in what appears to be a recruiting effort by both.

Duke sophomore-to-be forward Mark Mitchell wrote, "Hey big fella😁," while incoming five-star freshman forward Sean Stewart added, "Slideeee 😈."

Even so, at the time of this article's publishing, Udeh had not yet reported any interest from the Duke basketball staff or anyone else, for that matter. But he's only been in the portal a few hours, and suitors are sure to reach out in the coming days.

Although Udeh averaged only 2.6 points, 1.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks for the Jayhawks as a freshman last season, it's worth noting he played 30 games but saw only 8.3 minutes per outing. His per-40-minute averages are much more impressive, especially on the defensive end: 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.2 steals, and 2.9 blocks.

His career-high four blocks came in only 13 minutes of action during a win over Duke at the Champions Classic in November.

Furthermore, the Orlando native — same hometown as Sean Stewart — shot 75.6 from the field for the season, albeit only 40.9 percent from the charity stripe.

Meanwhile, next season's Duke basketball roster is stacked with returning and incoming talent, making the program the frontrunner to begin the season at No. 1 in the country. However, head coach Jon Scheyer and his crew have not landed anyone with the size and skill to replace NBA-bound Dereck Lively II in the post.

While Ernest Udeh Jr. is still a bit raw, there's no doubt he has the tools to develop into an intimidating force down low, even if only for 15-20 minutes per game.

And the Blue Devils should have one open scholarship, even if captain guard Jeremy Roach decides to return for a senior campaign (he has until May 31 to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft).

So considering the team's needs and the comments from Mitchell and Stewart, Udeh's new recruitment as a transfer looks worthy of Duke fans' attention.

RELATED: Mark Mitchell Addresses the Status of His Knee Injury

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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