Blue Devil Country

Prime Duke Basketball Recruiting Target: 'Goal Is to Be One-And-Done'

Duke basketball excels at producing what Jalen Haralson says he wants to become.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Austin Hough-USA TODAY NETWORK
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Back on June 15, the first day that college coaches had permission to directly contact 2025 prospects, Duke basketball was the first to dial up La Lumiere School (Ind.) forward Jalen Haralson. Roughly a month later, head coach Jon Scheyer extended an offer to the 6-foot-7, 205-pound smooth five-star.

Outside of an official visit to Auburn in late September and his attendance at Indiana's home loss to Kansas on Dec. 16, Haralson, No. 9 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite, hasn't made any substantial moves in his recruitment since landing on the Blue Devils' wishlist. No named finalists. No other visits in the works.

And although he's expressed no rush in choosing a destination after high school — he's noted in past interviews that he'll likely make up his mind around the start of his senior year — there's no doubt that Haralson hopes to get to the NBA as soon as possible.

"My goal is to be a one-and-one," he told League Ready at last week's La Porte Invitational in Indiana, . "Whatever school I feel like is going to best help me get there, I'll probably be attending that school."

The Duke basketball program's recent track record at churning out one-and-done NBA talents speaks for itself. In other words, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Blue Devils remain players in the Jalen Haralson race until its conclusion.

He's one of eight current high school juniors who have reported an offer from Scheyer and his crew. None have committed to Duke or publicly eliminated the Blue Devils from contention. 

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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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