Blue Devil Country

Son of Former NBA Champ Draws Duke Basketball Recruiting Interest

Duke basketball now has eyes on a budding wing in newly minted top-five prospect Tajh Ariza.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball recruiting prospect Tajh Ariza
Duke basketball recruiting prospect Tajh Ariza / Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK
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Westchester Senior (Calif.) junior sensation Tajh Ariza is the son of Trevor Ariza, a 2003-04 UCLA basketball one-and-done forward, former 18-year NBA journeyman, and 2009 champion with the Los Angeles Lakers. And within the first week of the start to the open recruiting period earlier this month, the 6-foot-8, 180-pound five-star saw Duke basketball attention at his school.

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According to On3's Jamie Shaw, Kentucky and Arkansas were among the other big-name recruiters on the scene to check out Tajh Ariza, who jumped one spot on the 247Sports 2026 Composite earlier this week to crack the top five for the first time.

He ranked No. 15 in early June. So, there's no doubt Ariza's stock is soaring, now well within reach of No. 1 overall.

"He plays a minimalistic game, if that makes sense," Shaw recently explained to Kentucky Sports Radio's Jacob Polacheck on the Here Comes the Boom podcast. "He's got great length. The shooting is coming around, and that's gonna kinda be the X factor as to how high he can go in the class...He's a good athlete. He's very young for his class, which is interesting to watch as he continues to fill out, already having the positional size."

Ariza's offer sheet consists of eight early suitors, per 247Sports, a list that already includes Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA, and Arkansas.

Meanwhile, third-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer has extended early offers to three 2026 talents: Paul VI Catholic High School (Va.) five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr., St. John Bosco High School (Calif.) five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr., and Compass Prep (Ariz.) five-star forward Miikka Muurinen.

All three of those full-fledged Blue Devil targets rank among the top dozen in the cycle.

ALSO READ: Five-Star Guard Suddenly Cancels Blue Devil Visit

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

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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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