Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Sees Sudden Shakeups in Major Recruiting Battles

Friday was not a quiet day in the Duke basketball recruiting universe.

Matt Giles

Duke Basketball Sees Sudden Shakeups in Major Recruiting Battles
Duke Basketball Sees Sudden Shakeups in Major Recruiting Battles /
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Duke basketball is no longer the favorite to land Kokomo (Ind.) center Flory Bidunga. No, on Friday afternoon, all three 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions flipped to Auburn as the 6-foot-9, 220-pound five-star prepares to announce his decision on Saturday night.

Assuming that's how the Bidunga race plays out, it leaves Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star Patrick Ngongba II, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound bruiser who sits at No. 27 in the class and took an official visit to Duke in early June before naming eight finalists a month later, as the only 2024 center on the Blue Devils' official wishlist.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Blue Devil Offer

Meanwhile, Friday also included some encouraging news for Duke on the 2024 recruiting trail.

Montverde (Fla.) small forward Cooper Flagg, No. 2 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, revealed on Instagram his intention to reclassify to 2024. The 6-foot-8, 200-pound five-star, an admitted lifelong Duke basketball enthusiast, is expected to secure the top spot in the 2024 rankings, knocking Bidunga (No. 4) down a notch.

Flagg's move up a grade has long been the expectation, despite his mom recently shutting down those rumors on social media. After all, the 16-year-old phenom is old enough to be eligible for the 2025 NBA Draft — and undoubtedly talented enough to be a lottery pick — if he takes the one-and-done college route the season after next.

"There is no rival for him [on the 2025 draft board]," an NBA scout told ESPN's Paul Biancardi. "He is No. 1 as of right now."

While there's no guarantee Flagg will ultimately commit to Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff, all four Crystal Ball picks to date favor the Blue Devils. And his recent trip to Durham is his only visit thus far in his recruitment.

That said, Biancardi reported on Friday that Flagg, who has yet to name finalists or pinpoint a timeline for his decision, "is in discussions to visit UConn."

As things stand, Duke's 2024 haul ranks No. 7 in the country with commitments from four-star small forward Darren Harris, who is Ngongba's teammate at Paul VI Catholic, and North Meck (N.C.) five-star small forward Isaiah Evans.

RELATED: Early Duke Commit in Ear of Giant Blue Devil Target

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

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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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