Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Signee Erupts in Opener of National Tournament

Incoming Duke basketball sniper Darren Harris delivered a 19-point quarter.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball signee Darren Harris
Duke basketball signee Darren Harris / Ricardo Rolon/USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA
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Darren Harris is built for the big stage, as he displayed again in his No. 2 seed Paul VI Catholic (Va.) squad's 101-89 quarterfinal win over No. 7 seed IMG Academy (Fla.) at the Chipotle Nationals in Indiana on Thursday afternoon. The future Duke basketball wing finished with a game-high 36 points in his 30 minutes on the floor. He added seven rebounds and three assists.

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And over half of his points — 19, to be exact — came in the third quarter alone. For the contest, the 6-foot-6, 195-pound Harris, a four-star who ranks No. 54 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, shot 12-for-21 from the field, 5-for-9 from downtown, and 7-for-7 at the charity stripe.

In other words, the heralded sharpshooter, winner of multiple 3-point contests as a prep, sizzled against elite competition and could be ready to contribute for the Blue Devils immediately next season, albeit likely in a reserve role.

As for Paul VI Catholic's other 2024 Duke basketball signee, five-star center Patrick Ngongba II, a 6-foot-11, 235-pound five-star boasting a No. 23 composite ranking, saw his first action since undergoing foot surgery in November. He tallied six points, five boards, two dimes, and one steal in only nine minutes off the bench.

At 2:30 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN2), Harris, Ngongba, and the Panthers face the winner of Thursday night's quarterfinal matchup between No. 3 seed Prolific Prep (Calif.) and No. 6 seed Link Academy (Mo.).

Meanwhile, the Blue Devils' top-ranked 2024 recruiting prize, five-star forward Cooper Flagg, is gearing up to lead No. 1 seed Montverde Academy (Fla.) against No. 8 seed Compass Prep (Ariz.) in their Chipotle Nationals opener at 8 p.m. Thursday (ESPNU).

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The championship bout, potentially pitting Harris and Ngongba against Flagg, tips off at noon Saturday (ESPN2).

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI 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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