Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball remains alive for former No. 1 recruit

Naas Cunningham has Duke basketball in his final five.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball remains alive for former No. 1 recruit
Duke basketball remains alive for former No. 1 recruit /
In this story:

There hasn't been much chatter recently surrounding Duke basketball's pursuit of Overtime Elite (Ga.) small forward Naas Cunningham.

Even so, the 6-foot-7, 180-pound five-star, who sat No. 1 on the 247Sports 2024 Composite as recently as August but has since slid to No. 5, included the Blue Devils among the five finalists he named on Thursday. Cunningham's list also includes Kansas, Memphis, Rutgers, and UCLA.

Duke's offer to Cunningham, who has said he grew up rooting for the Blue Devils, is more than a year old. Around the time it went out, the long-limbed versatile playmaker visited the school and attended the 2021-22 team's home win over Syracuse.

Again, though, he hasn't scheduled a return trip to Durham, and the buzz has seemed to wane.

Perhaps Scheyer's best hope at landing Naas Cunningham would be to first reel in a commitment from Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) combo guard Dylan Harper. After all, Harper and Cunningham are friends, having played together for the NY Rens on the Nike EYBL Circuit, and have mentioned the possibility of teaming up together in college.

RELATED: List of every recruit holding a Duke offer

Harper revealed his final five last week. It's worth pointing out that three of his finalists — Duke, Kansas, and Rutgers — are also on Cunningham's list.

Nevertheless, some see Memphis as the frontrunner in the Naas Cunningham sweepstakes; he plans to visit the Tigers next week, according to On3's Joe Tipton. That said, neither the 247Sports Crystal Ball nor the Rivals FutureCast contains a prediction for the race.

Meanwhile, the Duke basketball coaches boast one early 2024 commit in Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris.

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

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