Prime Duke Basketball Targets Heading to Rucker Park
![Duke basketball recruiting target Acaden Lewis Duke basketball recruiting target Acaden Lewis](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7119,h_4004,x_0,y_43/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/blue_devil_country/01j5gt3n5d5sv7ssmcxp.jpg)
The SLAM Summer Classic at the famed outdoor Rucker Park in New York City has featured several highlights by eventual Duke basketball talents over the years.
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Former five-star McDonald's All-American and projected one-and-done lottery pick Cooper Flagg, now in Durham preparing to star for the 2024-25 Duke basketball team, is the most recent example of a Blue Devil shining at Rucker Park. His clutch three and overall competitive fire went viral this time last year:
Cooper Flagg pulled up to Rucker Park last year and sent the game to overtime! 🤩🚨
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) August 15, 2024
SLAM SUMMER CLASSIC VOL. 6 PRESENTED BY @NBA2K. AUGUST 21. RUCKER PARK.@Cooper_Flagg pic.twitter.com/wMDsCjIwbe
Perhaps a future Blue Devil or two will excel under the bright lights at SLAM Summer Classic Volume 6 presented by NBA 2K on Wednesday.
There's no guarantee any prospect on the invite list, consisting of mostly five-stars and a few four-stars from the 2025 and 2026 recruiting cycles, will ever become a Duke basketball player. But at least a few are at or near the top of Scheyer & Co.'s wishlist.
All this month, SLAM HS Hoops has been revealing the invited preps one at a time on social media.
Five-star Caleb Wilson out of Atlanta is ready to TAKE OVER at the SLAM Summer Classic Volume 6 presented by @NBA2K at Rucker Park on August 21. pic.twitter.com/95ETqp4Bfw
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) August 9, 2024
Thus far, four of the 10 announced invites are to recruits who hold an offer from the Blue Devils and have not eliminated Duke from contention.
California 5⭐️ Brayden Burries is coming to hoop at the SLAM Summer Classic Volume 6 presented by @NBA2K at Rucker Park on August 21. pic.twitter.com/ZYx73UXvFo
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) August 12, 2024
Three are 2025 targets: Roosevelt High School (Calif.) five-star guard Brayden Burries, Holy Innocents Episcopal School (Ga.) five-star forward Caleb Wilson, and Sidwell Friends School (D.C.) four-star guard Acaden Lewis.
From cut from his middle school team to dominating the EYBL. From unranked to five-star. Don't ever count him out. Acaden Lewis is ready to prove the haters wrong at the SLAM Summer Classic Volume 6 presented by @NBA2K at Rucker Park on August 21. pic.twitter.com/GUqftloSmd
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) August 14, 2024
The other is the program's most recent offer recipient in the 2026 cycle: Compass Prep (Ariz.) four-star forward Miikka Muurinen.
— SLAM HS Hoops (@SLAM_HS) August 15, 2024
As things stand, Duke has not reeled in any 2025 or 2026 pledges.