Blue Devil Country

Rumblings of Priority Duke Basketball Target Possibly Reclassifying

Duke basketball's list of 2024 offers may be one name deeper than it looks.

Matt Giles

Rumblings of Priority Duke Basketball Target Possibly Reclassifying
Rumblings of Priority Duke Basketball Target Possibly Reclassifying /
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Montverde Academy (Fla.) small forward and long-time Duke basketball recruiting target Cooper Flagg already appears prepared to shine at the college level. Moreover, his December 2006 birthday would make him 19 years old in 2025 and eligible for that year's NBA Draft, so long as he's then one year out of high school.

With all of the above in mind and out of fairness to his prep competition, it could make sense for Flagg, an admitted lifelong fan of the Blue Devils who is widely projected as talented enough to be a one-and-done lottery pick no matter which class he's in, to jump ahead into the 2024 cycle.

Is it a possibility? Although Flagg has not confirmed so, several national recruiting insiders have hinted at it.

That's especially been the case recently as Flagg has leapfrogged fellow Duke basketball offer-holder Cameron Boozer out of Christopher Columbus High School (Fla.) into the top spot on some sites' 2025 rankings.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Blue Devil Offer

Over the weekend, Rivals' Rob Cassidy, a few months removed from entering a prediction favoring the Blue Devils into his site's FutureCast for Flagg, mentioned the reclass talk as the 6-foot-8, 195-bound beyond-his-years five-star prepares to lead his Maine United team at this week's much-anticipated Peach Jam in North Augusta, S.C.

Plus, Cassidy painted Duke as seemingly a near lock in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes:

"It has long seemed as though Cooper Flagg was going to land at Duke. Reclassification rumors have also found their way into the Flagg-to-Duke buzz, as some think [he] could join the Blue Devils as part of the 2024 class. There seem to be very few other serious players in Flagg's recruitment, which seems strange for such a high-profile prospect. Things change on a dime in recruiting, obviously, but I feel OK saying I expect Jon Scheyer to land his top target unless a professional league makes some sort of massive move in the coming months."

Flagg earned MVP honors at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Orlando, Fla., on Friday. That same day, renowned recruiting insider Andrew Slater tweeted that he expects two of the premier 2025 talents from the event to end up in 2024, albeit he didn't name the potential Blue Devil prize specifically.

Meanwhile, Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer has yet to land a commitment from a 2025 recruit but has reeled in two pledges on the 2024 trail in North Meck (N.C.) five-star small forward Isaiah Evans and Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris.

RELATED: Blue Devils Join Loaded Battle for 2024 Wisconsin Five-Star

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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