Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Insider Rules Out One Suitor in VJ Edgecombe Race

Duke basketball seems to have only a few to beat for VJ Edgecombe's electrifying services.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Amanda Inscore-USA TODAY Sports
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Last week, Duke basketball target VJ Edgecombe said he's "leaning one way" while narrowing his focus to five of the schools he visited in the fall: Duke, Kentucky, Florida, Baylor, and St. John's. At No. 5 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, the Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) guard is the highest-ranked undecided prospect in the class.

RELATED: Kentucky May Overtake Duke Recruiters for Top Spot in 2024

On Thursday night, responding to an inquiry about the high-profile sweepstakes from a Red Storm hopeful, national recruiting insider "Trilly Donovan" quashed the fan's hopes with eight words: "VJ will not end up at St. John's."

As things stand, Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his gang are the frontrunners in the eyes of the 247Sports 2024 Composite. However, several recruiting experts have recently suggested that Kentucky might be that "one way" Edgecombe is "leaning."

It's unlikely he will reveal his decision before the calendar turns to 2024. That said, an announcement soon thereafter wouldn't come as a surprise. 

Meanwhile, the 6-foot-5, 180-pound five-star, who has held an offer from the Blue Devils since July, continues to display the thrilling weapons that help explain why his recruitment is garnering so much attention.

VJ Edgecombe and his Long Island Lutheran squad came up short in their Saturday night City of Palms Classic championship bout against 2024 Duke signee Cooper Flagg, a five-star forward who is the top-ranked talent in the cycle, and undefeated Montverde Academy (Fla.), the nation's top-ranked prep powerhouse.

RELATED: Duke Signee Cooper Flagg's Mom Helps Recruit Five-Star Guard

But as On3's Jamie Shaw noted above the following posted highlight of Edgecombe blowing by defenders and exploding to the rim for an emphatic flush, his "lateral twitch" and "vertical pop" were impossible to miss:

Edgecombe tallied a team-high 20 points and seven rebounds in his team's 73-59 loss. Flagg finished with a game-high 21 points and 14 rebounds, not to mention his three assists, one steal, and four blocks, on his way to securing more MVP hardware.

Duke's Jon Scheyer Watches Cooper Flagg Deliver Filthy Dunk

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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