Blue Devil Country

Enormous Duke Basketball Recruit Locks in More Trips Elsewhere

Khaman Maluach's recent Duke basketball visit didn't result in an instant commitment.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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In late January, two 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions surfaced in the week following Khaman Maluach's official visit with the Blue Devils. That suggested Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his crew might have been on the verge of securing a pledge from the NBA Academy Africa big man.

Now, though, that doesn't appear to be the case, at least not yet. On Monday, 247Sports' Travis Branham reported that Maluach, a South Sudan native, has set dates for four more official visits in his recruitment: to Kansas this weekend, Kentucky a few days later, G League Ignite on Feb. 21-22, and UCLA the following two days.

According to Branham, the 7-foot-2, 235-pound five-star, who rose to No. 9 this week on the list of On3's 2024 Top Basketball Recruits, hopes to make up his mind on where he'll spend next season by the end of this month.

He's the highest-ranked undecided talent remaining in the cycle.

Speaking of On3, its Recruiting Prediction Machine views the Maluach race as practically a dead heat between Duke, fellow bluebloods Kansas, Kentucky, and UCLA, plus the pro route in G League Ignite. Although the 17-year-old towering phenom has not officially named finalists, it feels like a safe bet one of those five will prevail.

The Duke basketball staff currently boasts the nation's supreme 2024 haul, an impressive five-deep bunch. But Kentucky, with the next-best collection and trailing the Blue Devils by only a fraction of a point in class rating, needs only one more quality piece, such as Maluach, to overtake Scheyer & Co. atop the team rankings.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more updates on the Khaman Maluach sweepstakes and other 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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