Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Jon Scheyer Fires Warning at Recruiting Foes

Duke basketball recruiting magic is only growing under Jon Scheyer's watch.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
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Jon won Kon. On Thursday night, just a few days after checking out the Blue Devils on an official visit, Wisconsin Lutheran potent wing Kon Knueppel revealed his commitment to second-year Duke basketball head coach and recruiting mastermind Jon Scheyer.

Knueppel, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound five-star who recently rose seven spots to No. 15 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, publicized his decision with the following post on social media:

Duke prevailed despite Wisconsin's status as the home-state hopeful or the myriad of connections between Virginia head coach Tony Bennett, a longtime suitor in the race, and the Knueppels.

He joins North Meck (N.C.) five-star small forward Isaiah Evans and Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris in the 2024 Blue Devil recruiting haul. All three Duke pledges are among the premier sharpshooters in the prep ranks, indicating Scheyer's desire to stockpile 3-point weapons and bucket-getting wings.

The addition of Kon Knueppel bumped the Blue Devils to No. 2 on 247Sports' class rankings, trailing their UNC basketball rivals by only 0.16 points.

On that note, the Tar Heels have only one outstanding offer to the remaining undecided high school seniors in Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) five-star combo guard Boogie Fland. And he appears to be trending elsewhere.

As for Scheyer and his crew, they are the perceived favorite to land the No. 1 prospect in Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star small forward and admitted Duke basketball enthusiast Cooper Flagg. He will be on campus for an official visit beginning Oct. 20, the same weekend as the program's Countdown to Craziness.

That's not to mention the Blue Devils still being a finalist for the No. 2 prospect, Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) five-star combo guard Dylan Harper, or the fact they'll host two more five-star talents alongside Flagg in Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) small forward VJ Edgecombe and Paul VI Catholic center Patrick Ngongba II, teammate to Harris.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Duke Offer

In other words, one has to think Duke is probably the frontrunner to secure the top-ranked collection for a second time across the three cycles since Scheyer assumed complete control of the recruiting operations in Durham (the Blue Devils finished No. 2 in 2023).

Hours before Kon Knueppel's announcement, the official Duke basketball account took issue with a post by mystery insider "Trilly Donovan" pointing to new supreme threats emerging on the recruiting trail.

"Too soon, Trilly," Duke responded.

Yes, it seems Duke already knew the news that was about to come from Knueppel.

Consider it a warning: even in the post-Mike Krzyzewski era, Jon Scheyer reigns as the nation's recruiting king.

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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