Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Signee Wins Tournament MVP, Set to Face Boozer Twins

A future Duke basketball sharpshooter will square off against two potential Blue Devils at the Hoophall Classic.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Nathan Papes-USA TODAY NETWORK
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On Saturday night, Paul VI Catholic (Va.) sensation Darren Harris, the first of now-five 2024 Duke basketball recruiting prizes comprising the nation's top-ranked class, scored 23 points in a 71-53 title victory over St. John Bosco (Calif.) at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Missouri. And he took home MVP honors.

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Harris, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound four-star forward who ranks No. 57 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, shot 8-for-11 from the field and drained four 3-pointers in that contest. The previous night, he tallied a game-high 20 points in a 48-37 semifinal win over McEachern (Ga.).

Paul VI, home to another Duke signee in five-star center Patrick Ngongba II (out with a foot injury), improved to 13-1 this season after securing the Bass Pro trophy for the second time in three years.

The Panthers' only loss was to Montverde Academy (Fla.) and the No. 1 high school senior in five-star forward Cooper Flagg, who inked his national letter of intent with the Blue Devils in November, along with Harris, Ngongba, North Meck (N.C.) five-star forward Isaiah Evans, and Wisconsin Lutheran five-star forward Kon Knueppel.

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Now, Paul VI is at the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts to face another formidable opponent in Columbus High School (Fla.). The Explorers feature a pair of prime 2025 Duke basketball targets in five-star forward Cameron Boozer and his twin brother, five-star guard Cayden Boozer, sons of 2001 Blue Devil national champ Carlos Boozer.

Tipoff is at 1 p.m. ET Monday (ESPNU).

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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.

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