Blue Devil Country

Top Duke Basketball Target Makes Significant Cuts in Recruitment

VJ Edgecombe is down to three, including the Duke basketball recruiting team.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
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On Christmas Eve, Blue Devil Country on SI.com reported on recent rumblings that Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) guard VJ Edgecombe, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound explosive five-star, was likely considering only Duke basketball and two other programs from the top 11 he named several months ago.

Then, on Wednesday evening, Edgecombe, the highest-ranked undecided senior at No. 5 on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, confirmed that chatter. He's down to three suitors in Duke, Kentucky, and Baylor, officially eliminating Alabama, Florida, Florida State, St. John's, Miami, Michigan, UConn, and G League Ignite from contention.

Edgecombe, who took an official visit to Duke in October alongside what is now a five-member, top-ranked recruiting haul, used this site's headline and teaser from that Christmas Eve article for the Blue Devil part of the following graphic in revealing his finalists. And he went with the "Brotherhood jersey" photo from his trip to Durham:

At the time of this article's publishing, the 247Sports Crystal Ball pegs Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his gang as the favorite to land Edgecombe.

However, note that all three entered predictions to date popped up in early November. Since then, some insiders have suggested that Kentucky has emerged as the frontrunner.

Furthermore, following the reveal of VJ Edgecombe's final three, national recruiting insider "Trilly Donovan" cautioned not to discount Baylor's chances:

He hasn't yet noted when he'll pick a winner. That said, at last week's City of Palms Classic, Edgecombe told media members that he's "leaning one way."

Judging by that statement and the final cuts he made on Wednesday, one might deduce that a decision could be just around the corner.

If Kentucky prevails, the Wildcats would leapfrog the Blue Devils atop the class ranking.

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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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