Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Staff Employs Celebrity Power in Recruiting Arena

A famous Duke basketball ambassador helped Jon Scheyer recruit on Saturday.

Matt Giles

Duke Basketball Staff Employs Celebrity Power in Recruiting Arena
Duke Basketball Staff Employs Celebrity Power in Recruiting Arena /
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Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and assistants Chris Carrawell, Amile Jefferson, and Jai Lucas spent most of Saturday at the LakePoint Champions Center near Atlanta. They were there this weekend to check out the nation's top prep talents in the first session of the Nike EYBL season.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Duke Offer

And it's safe to say they boosted their image via the presence of one former Blue Devil sensation.

As the Duke recruiters watched key 2024 targets Dylan Harper and Tyler Betsey play for the NY Rens on Saturday evening, they enjoyed the company of arguably the best recent example of what the Duke basketball program can produce in current Boston Celtics superstar forward Jayson Tatum.

Not only is Jayson Tatum recognizable as the first Boston Celtics player in history to average 30 points or more in a season, but he was also one of the top five contenders in the NBA MVP race this year and recently saw the release of his signature Jordan sneakers. That's not to mention all the commercials he stars in these days.

Tatum and the Celtics, who lost to the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of their first-round NBA Playoffs series on Friday but still maintain a 2-1 lead, remain in town preparing for their Game 4 matchup at 6 p.m. ET Sunday.

It says a lot about Tatum's love for the Blue Devils that he found time to support Scheyer — an assistant at Duke in Tatum's 2016-17 one-and-done campaign — at the first all-important recruiting opportunity this Nike EYBL season.

So did Tatum's attendance lock up any Duke basketball recruiting races? Probably not. But one can imagine that some top-shelf recruits with realistic NBA dreams must have taken note.

RELATED: Alabama Coach Makes a Move for Duke Target Tyler Betsey

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for more Duke basketball recruiting updates.

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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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