Blue Devil Country

Watch Out: Duke Basketball Predictions Appear for Explosive Recruit

The Duke basketball coaches could reel in their third five-star pledge in the span of a week or two.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball mascot (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
In this story:

Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) senior VJ Edgecombe, No. 6 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, hasn't announced a decision date. But there's growing chatter that a commitment could be on the horizon. And Duke basketball might like its chances in the high-profile recruiting race.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Blue Devil Offer

On Friday, national recruiting insider "Trilly Donovan" broke down where the Blue Devils stand for the 6-foot-5, 180-pound electric five-star:

"Edgecombe is another prospect Blue Devil fans should be paying attention to. [He] is set to visit St. John's next weekend, and the Johnnies are likely Duke's biggest competition. There was a ton of buzz surrounding Duke and Edgecombe coming out of the Countdown to Craziness visit — enough so that he's canceled all of his other visits. We'll be quick to put in an official prediction following the visit [to St. John's] next weekend."

Meanwhile, the first two 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions for the VJ Edgecombe sweepstakes popped up on Friday. Both point to second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his gang coming out on top. Another followed suit on Saturday afternoon.

Two of the three predictions have a "high" level of confidence.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that Scheyer traveled to New York to see Edgecombe on Thursday, just two weeks after the heralded prospect was in Durham on an official visit alongside the Blue Devils' first three 2024 pledges and two others who have since committed to Duke.

As of Saturday's commitment from five-star center Patrick Ngongba II, Scheyer's 2024 class sits comfortably at No. 1 in the cycle.

Ngongba joined his teammate from Duke basketball-friendly Paul VI Catholic (Va.), four-star wing Darren Harris, plus Montverde (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg, Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward Kon Knueppel, and North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans.

Adding VJ Edgecombe to that collection would put the Blue Devils' haul in off-the-charts territory, flirting with all-time status.

Duke Flex: Cooper Flagg Pledges Allegiance to Blue Devils

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

Published
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.

Home/Recruiting