Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball coaches looking to host gifted small forward

While 2024 Duke basketball recruiting news is sparse, some pursuits remain.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball coaches looking to host gifted small forward
Duke basketball coaches looking to host gifted small forward /
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Last week, the Duke basketball staff had an in-home visit with St. Thomas More School (Conn.) small forward Tyler Betsey. And according to the 6-foot-8, 185-pound four-star's recent chat with 247Sports' Dushawn London, the Blue Devils hope to welcome the versatile talent on an official visit and detail their vision for his role in Durham.

RELATED: List of every recruit holding a Duke offer

"It was a great visit," Betsey, who sits at only No. 44 on the 247Sports 2024 Composite but is likely to see a rise soon, recounted to London. "It was crazy having three Duke coaches in Windsor, Connecticut. They talked about their plan for me, how I would be able to come in and play right away and have freedom as a freshman...The plan was kind of vague because they're saving the full plan for if I go on an official."

Betsey, a notable sharpshooter, long-limbed athlete, and improving slasher with a long list of offers from power-conference programs, has yet to go on or schedule any official visits.

He noted to London that he has a few trips in mind. But he didn't divulge them. As for now, it sounds like he is in no rush to trim his list of suitors. 

"My process is fairly slow compared to others in the class," he said. "I'm just listening to everybody, hearing what everybody has to offer. I'm not making any decisions anytime soon."

Thus far, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) small forward Darren Harris, a four-star who ranks No. 50 among current high school juniors, is the Duke basketball recruiters' only 2024 commit.

Meanwhile, six undecided prospects in the class hold Blue Devil offers. That said, Tyler Betsey appears to be one of only three targets still drawing considerable interest from head coach Jon Scheyer and his assistants, which makes sense given the trend of more top-tier Duke rookies sticking around for more than one season.

Another target is Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) five-star combo guard Dylan Harper, who boasts a No. 4 composite ranking and, worth noting, is Betsey's NY Rens teammate on the Nike EYBL circuit. Then there's North Meck (N.C.) five-star small forward Isaiah Evans, who ranks No. 27 and is the most recent recipient of an offer out of Durham.

RELATED: Prime Blue Devil target Dylan Harper reveals decision timeline

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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