Blue Devil Country

Kentucky Joins Mix for Latest Duke Basketball Recruiting Target

Duke basketball is among several new suitors for showstopper Meleek Thomas.

Matt Giles

Kentucky Joins Mix for Latest Duke Basketball Recruiting Target
Kentucky Joins Mix for Latest Duke Basketball Recruiting Target /
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The Meleek Thomas race is heating up quickly. On Sunday, one day after reigning national champion UConn added him to its 2025 wishlist, the Lincoln Park (Pa.) sophomore landed an offer from the Duke basketball staff; Cerebro Sports' Andrew Slater reported that he's considering a June visit with the Blue Devils.

RELATED: Blue Devils Enter the Fray for Top-Ranked Point Guard

Tennessee extended an offer to Thomas the following day. Then on Wednesday afternoon, blueblood recruiting juggernaut Kentucky became the latest power-conference school to make the 6-foot-4, 170-pound point guard an official target, pushing his offer count to more than a dozen.

Furthermore, it's worth noting that he received offers from Michigan and Xavier earlier this month.

Meleek Thomas, a smooth playmaker with a deep array of advanced bucket-getting moves, drew loads of college coaches to his games for the NY Lightning at last weekend's Nike EYBL event in Georgia. He ranks No. 6 overall and No. 1 at his position on the 247Sports 2025 Composite.

Although the 247Sports Crystal Ball doesn't yet project a favorite, one must view Kentucky and Duke as top contenders for any top-shelf prospects they pursue. After all, the Wildcats and Blue Devils enjoy the top two 2023 recruiting hauls and have now combined for 11 of the nation's past 13 top-ranked classes, according to 247Sports.

Three more 2025 preps hold early Duke basketball offers. They are Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star power forward Cooper Flagg, Christopher Columbus High School (Fla.) five-star power forward Cameron Boozer, and Christopher Columbus' other Boozer twin, four-star combo guard Cayden Boozer.

Cameron Boozer and Cooper Flagg sit at No. 1 and 2 in the class, respectively, while Cayden Boozer boasts a No. 31 composite ranking.

So Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his gang have already targeted three 2025 prospects in the top 10 and four in the top 35.

RELATED: Duke Employs Celebrity Power in the Recruiting Arena

Kentucky basketball head coach John Calipari and his cohorts also have offers out to four sophomores, including three talents in the top 10. But for now, Meleek Thomas is the only one in the class boasting offers from the Blue Devils and Wildcats.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for more Duke basketball recruiting updates.

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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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