Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Staff Could Land Highest-Rated Class in History

Duke basketball's 2024 haul already sits comfortably at No. 1 in the cycle.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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It might be ambitious to expect second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his gang to add three more premier talents to its 2024 recruiting class. After all, the collection already includes five-star forwards Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Isaiah Evans, plus four-star wing Darren Harris.

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But folks should view the 36-year-old Scheyer as the undisputed king of the recruiting trail after landing the No. 1 class in 2022 for his debut season, welcoming the nation's No. 2 class for this season, and compiling the top-ranked class thus far in 2024.

In other words, it's wise not to count Scheyer out of any race so long he remains active in his pursuit.

On that note, the Blue Devils are still active suitors for at least three more 2024 five-stars: Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) guard Dylan Harper, Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) guard VJ Edgecombe, and Paul VI Catholic (Va.) center Patrick Ngongba II.

Duke has hosted all three on official visits. Harper (No. 2 composite ranking) was at Countdown to Craziness last year. Edgecombe (No. 6) and Ngongba (No. 25) were at this year's edition; they were alongside Flagg (No. 1) and the first three 2024 Blue Devil commits in Knueppel (No. 15), Evans (No. 18), and Harris (No. 60).

So, Duke boasts four of the cycle's top 60 prospects, including the No. 1 player and two others in the top 20, and seemingly has at least an outside shot of finishing with seven in the top 60, six in the top 25.

As 247Sports' Travis Branham pointed out on Monday following Flagg's announced pledge, "Duke still isn't done in the 2024 recruiting class as they're still in the running with Patrick Ngongba II, VJ Edgecombe, and Dylan Harper." And if they snag all three, "it'd be the highest-rated class in the history of 247Sports with a score of 71.13."

Ngongba, teammate to Harris at Paul VI Catholic, will announce his decision on Saturday. He's choosing from three finalists: Duke, Kansas State, and Kentucky.

Edgecombe and Harper have yet to set decision dates. Both could wait to see how things shake out this season. Meanwhile, Duke basketball remains among their finalists.

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