Blue Devil Country

Prime Duke Basketball Target Drops From Top Spot in Rankings

All three 2026 Duke basketball offer holders remain inside the top 10.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball recruiting target Brandon McCoy Jr.
Duke basketball recruiting target Brandon McCoy Jr. / Nathan Papes/Springfield News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK
In this story:

When St. John Bosco High School (Calif.) five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr. visited the Duke basketball program in early November, the 6-foot-4, 170-pound junior checked in at No. 1 overall in the 2026 class, both in the eyes of On3 and on the 247Sports 2026 Composite.

ALSO READ: Cooper Flagg Joins Four Duke Stars on Exclusive List

He still sits atop the composite rankings.

But that may soon change, as McCoy fell two notches in the On3 rankings to No. 3 this week. His St. John Bosco teammate, five-star forward Christian Collins, jumped to No. 2, and Notre Dame High School (Calif.) five-star forward Tyran Stokes climbed to the top spot.

In fairness to Brandon McCoy Jr., who received an offer from Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer in July and has since attracted Blue Devil coaches to his school, he's been out of commission for over a month due to injury.

Meanwhile, Scheyer and his cohorts also remain in contention for the other two high school juniors who have landed offers out of Durham in Compass Prep (Ariz.) five-star forward Miikka Muurinen and Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.) five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr.

According to the latest On3 update, Muurinen stacks up at No. 7 in the cycle. And Smith, who checked out the Blue Devils the same weekend as McCoy, ranks No. 8 overall.

ALSO READ: Blue Devils Draw Closer to New Season-Best Ranking

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

Published
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.

Home/Basketball