Duke basketball recruiting prospect grew up rooting for UNC

Five-star Isiah Harwell appears to respect the UNC-Duke basketball rivalry.

Matt Giles | Oct 10, 2022

Photo credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

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Two weeks ago, the Duke basketball program and its UNC basketball counterpart hosted Wasatch Academy (Utah) shooting guard Isiah Harwell for his two unofficial visits on Tobacco Road.

Of the two, though, only the Tar Heels extended an offer to the 6-foot-6, 190-pound five-star, who ranks No. 5 in the 2025 class, per 247Sports.

While the Blue Devils may eventually enter the fray for Harwell, they might face an uphill battle against their archrivals in light of what the high school sophomore told On3's Jamie Shaw this weekend at USA Basketball's Junior National Team minicamp in Colorado.

"It's just like a loving program," Harwell said about UNC. "Everybody is so welcoming. It feels like it's just like a welcome program. When that offer came in, I was just excited cause that was like my dream school growing up, so I was just lost for words. It's just the way they played and just their rivalry with Duke. My two older brothers had a thing for Duke, so I was all for UNC."

Isiah Harwell is a prolific, versatile scorer with eyes on reaching the top of the 2025 rankings.

"I want to show everyone this weekend that I am better than them," Harwell informed Shaw.

Duke's early 2025 offer sheet remains only three deep: five-star power forward Cameron Boozer, five-star small forward Cooper Flagg, and four-star combo guard Cayden Boozer.

First-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff have yet to land a prize on the 2025 or 2024 recruiting trail.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for more Duke basketball recruiting updates.

Published Oct 10, 2022

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.