Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Staff Falls Short in Major Recruiting Battle

VJ Edgecombe went with Baylor over his Duke basketball suitors and fellow recruiting juggernaut Kentucky.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Russell Lansford-USA TODAY Sports
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For months after Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) guard VJ Edgecombe took an official visit to the Duke basketball program on the same weekend as Countdown to Craziness in October, several insiders painted the Blue Devils as the favorite to land the 6-foot-5, 180-pound five-star.

But that all changed in the 48 hours leading up to Edgecombe's highly anticipated Sunday night announcement. The 247Sports Crystal Ball and Rivals FutureCast went from 100 percent in favor of Duke to completely flipped in Baylor's direction.

Then, during halftime of a game at the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts, the explosive perimeter prospect confirmed that late intel by revealing his commitment to Baylor head coach Scott Drew and the Bears over Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils and his other blueblood finalist, Kentucky.

At No. 5 overall and No. 1 in New York on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, VJ Edgecombe was the highest-ranked high school senior still up for grabs. And he's the highest-rated Baylor pledge in over 10 years.

Even so, Duke basketball remains atop the 2024 class rankings with five heralded prizes set to arrive on campus in the summer:

  • Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star forward Darren Harris
  • Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward Kon Knueppel
  • North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans
  • Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg
  • Paul VI Catholic five-star center Patrick Ngongba II

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Furthermore, the 2024 Blue Devil offer sheet, which has included 15 names on the way to Scheyer & Co. compiling Duke's celebrated collection, still shows one undecided recruit in NBA Academy Africa five-star center Khaman Maluach.

Towering Overseas Talent Now Set to Check Out Duke

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting 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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