Duke Basketball: Major Decision Close at Hand for Blue Devils
If Kokomo (Ind.) rising senior Flory Bidunga pledges allegiance to the Duke basketball program, he would be the highest-ranked commit for the Blue Devils since Dereck Lively II, Dariq Whitehead, and Kyle Filipowski (No. 2, 3, and 4 on the 247Sports 2022 Composite) announced their decisions to put their trust in Jon Scheyer two years ago.
Bidunga, No. 1 among big men and No. 4 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, is on the cusp of a decision in his recruitment, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound five-star told 247Sports' Dushawn London this week while playing at the Adidas 3SSB Gold Championship in Rock Hill, S.C.
"I'm coming towards the end," he said. "I want to make a decision pretty soon...I feel like I'm close to making my decision."
He listed Duke, Auburn, Cincinnati, Indiana, Kansas, and Michigan as schools that are "recruiting [him] hard" but didn't necessarily name them finalists.
As for the Blue Devils' interest, although it's relatively new, they hosted Bidunga for an official visit in June. And that led many to view the recruiting powerhouse in Durham as an instant frontrunner for the intimidating center.
"It was big time when Duke offered me," Bidunga noted to London. "They're a really good school that can develop players. They're confident in the work they do, and I trust them."
Scheyer and his cohorts have thus far landed two pledges in the 2024 cycle. Both are heralded prospects. Five-star small forward Isaiah Evans boasts a No. 18 composite ranking, and four-star small forward Darren Harris sits at No. 66.
But Flory Bidunga, a Congo native who started playing basketball only a few years ago but whose bounce, power, and instincts in the post are off the charts, could represent a game-changer recruiting win.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.