Blue Devil Country

Kentucky May Overtake Duke Basketball Recruiters for Top Spot in 2024

Duke basketball probably needs another pledge to fend off Kentucky's charge in the 2024 recruiting arena.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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In all but two of the past 15 recruiting cycles, either the Duke basketball staff or its Kentucky counterpart has ended up with the nation's No. 1 class (Kentucky's count in that span leads Duke, 8-5). On that note, it's no surprise the Blue Devils and Wildcats currently rank No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on the 2024 trail with five prizes apiece.

But there's still no telling which of the two unmatched recruiting powerhouses will be in the top spot when it's all said and done.

On Thursday, Kentucky's fifth piece and third composite five-star prospect, Camden (N.J.) guard Billy Richmond, announced his commitment to John Calipari and his crew. He bumped the Wildcats' class rating to 69.7, per 247Sports. That's less than point below the Blue Devils' 70.4 mark.

In other words, one more commit could be enough for Kentucky to prevail in the ranking. On the other hand, the Blue Devils might seal another top-ranked haul (would be the second in three years with Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer calling all the shots in Durham) via just one more pledge of their own.

Interestingly, Duke and Kentucky look like the frontrunners to land the highest-ranked undecided high school senior in Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) five-star guard VJ Edgecombe, No. 5 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.

Outside of Edgecombe's recruitment, the Blue Devils remain in the hunt for recently reclassified NBA Academy Africa five-star center Khaman Maluach, and the Wildcats continue to pursue Overtime Elite (Ga.) five-star forward Karter Knox.

Yes, this year's race will likely come down to the wire between Jon Scheyer and John Calipari.

Either way, Duke has bragging rights when it comes to boasting the premier 2024 talent, Montverde (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg, who signed his national letter of intent in early November.

Duke Signee Cooper Flagg's Mom Helps Recruit Five-Star Guard

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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