Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Target’s Father May Be Pressuring Him to Go Elsewhere

Duke basketball's location could pose an issue for the top-ranked 2024 prospect.

Matt Giles

Duke Basketball Target’s Father May Be Pressuring Him to Go Elsewhere
Duke Basketball Target’s Father May Be Pressuring Him to Go Elsewhere /
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The 247Sports Crystal Ball still pegs the Duke basketball program as the leader in the Dylan Harper sweepstakes. That said, only one expert has entered a prediction there, and it's over six months old.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Currently Holding a Blue Devil Offer

Meanwhile, with its two more recent predictions, the Rivals FutureCast paints Rutgers as the home-state favorite for the five-star.

And that sure makes sense in light of what the 6-foot-5, 180-pound combo guard's father, former five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, recently said to The Athletic's Seth Davis about his conversations with his son:

"I told him, 'Your grandma and grandpa have been driving you around since you were one day old, and you can reward them by staying close at Rutgers.'"

Dylan Harper, a crafty lefty who attends Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey and has steadily risen to No. 1 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, announced five finalists in late January: Auburn, Duke, Indiana, Kansas, and Rutgers.

He visited the Blue Devils in October on the same weekend as Countdown to Craziness.

But now that a decision is on the horizon — either in the coming weeks or sometime after his senior season begins, per his chat last week with 247Sports' Travis Branham — he's looking more and more like a Rutgers lean.

After all, his older brother, Ron Harper Jr., chose to play for head coach Steve Pikiell and the Scarlet Knights. And he went from being a three-star prep to an NBA player.

Furthermore, within the past two weeks, Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer has entered the mix for two 2024 talents similar in size to Dylan Harper, albeit both listed as small forwards. Some might say that indicates Scheyer and his crew now see themselves as longshots to reel in a commitment from Harper.

Those new targets are Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) five-star VJ Edgecombe and Wisconsin Lutheran five-star Kon Knueppel.

RELATED: Five-Star 2024 Sharpshooter Decides to Visit Blue Devils

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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