Duke basketball recruiting target commits to UNC

UNC enjoys a growing lead over its Duke basketball rival on the 2024 trail.

Matt Giles | Jan 2, 2023

Duke basketball recruiting target commits to UNC /

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Duke Blue Devils

Without giving the public advance notice of a decision date, St. Rita (Ill.) center James Brown is officially on board as a future Tar Heel after revealing his UNC basketball commitment on Monday night. The 6-foot-10, 225-pound junior had held a Duke basketball offer since late July.

And the Blue Devils were among Brown's top 10, which he named in late September, along with UNC, Eastern Michigan, Howard, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Missouri, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin.

James Brown is a physical four-star big man who is agile for his size. The Chicago native ranks No. 1 in his state and at No. 27 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite. His pledge was UNC's third among current juniors, strengthening the program's standing atop the 2024 class ranking.

The other two early Tar Heel prizes are five-star point guard Elliot Cadeau and four-star small forward Drake Powell.

Meanwhile, the Blue Devils have one commit in Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris, placing them at No. 6 in the 2024 recruiting arena.

With Brown off the board, the Duke basketball offer sheet contains six undecided recruits: five-star combo guard Dylan Harper, five-star shooting guard Tre Johnson, five-star small forward Bryson Tucker, five-star small forward Naas Cunningham, five-star small forward Carter Bryant, and four-star small forward Tyler Betsey.

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

Published Jan 2, 2023

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.