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Duke Basketball Recruiting: Where Things Stand With VJ Edgecombe
With five heralded signees on board, including the No. 1 overall talent, Montverde Academy (Fla.) forward Cooper Flagg, plus three more five-stars, Duke basketball boasts the premier 2024 recruiting haul. And the Blue Devils may stay put in that top spot regardless of how things play out from here.
However, Kentucky isn't out of the running for that honor yet.
It could come down to the decision of Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) guard VJ Edgecombe, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound five-star who ranks No. 5 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.
As of Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) five-star guard Dylan Harper's announced commitment to Rutgers earlier this week, Edgecombe appears to be the only undecided high school senior remaining on the Duke basketball wishlist.
Sure, the Blue Devils remain the 247Sports Crystal Ball leader with all three entered predictions pointing to Duke coming out on top for the 18-year-old. But Edgecombe has 11 finalists, including the two other presumed frontrunners in the race, Kentucky and Baylor.
On Thursday night, Baylor head coach Scott Drew and assistant Alvin Brooks were in Columbia, S.C., to watch Edgecombe lead his team to a 69-59 victory over Sunrise Christian (Kan.) at The Bash showcase. The electric bucket-finder finished with 17 points, four assists, and three steals.
So, it looks as though Drew and his cohorts feel like they're still in the mix.
And Rivals' Rob Cassidy agrees. This week, the national recruiting insider labeled Baylor, Duke, and Kentucky as "the serious contenders" for VJ Edgecombe's services:
"It seems likely that Edgecombe will play his college hoops in either Durham, Lexington, or Waco. Separating the three teams at the top is a bit tricky for the time being, however. Kentucky's fast start is said to have intrigued the five-star guard, who looked a bit like a Duke lean not so long ago. The Bears are also hanging around, however, and one person in the know recently described them to me as 'still definitely among the top three.'"
Edgecombe has taken official visits to all three.
Cassidy cautioned not to entirely rule out hometown hopeful St. John's or the early pro route via G League Ignite (another of his finalists).
Meanwhile, Edgecombe hasn't provided a timeline for his commitment. Instead, he's said time and again that he'll announce his decision when it feels right.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.