Tag: 2024 recruiting class

Khaman Maluach officially signs on with the Blue Devils

South Sudanese star Khaman Maluach, one of the top players in the Class of 2024, made his Duke commitment official on Wednesday.

Duke commit Khaman Maluach officially signed with the Blue Devils on Wednesday, the team announced through social media.

Maluach first committed to head coach Jon Scheyer back on March 6. The five-star South Sudanese center is the No. 3 player in the Class of 2023, according to 247Sports. The 7-foot-2 center played against future teammates Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans at the Nike Hoop Summit earlier this month.

“I am really excited to welcome Khaman Maluach to Duke,” Scheyer said in a statement shared by the team. “His vocal leadership, the energy and enthusiasm that he plays with, and his commitment to winning above individual statistics stood out to me when watching him throughout the recruiting process.”

Maluach recently made a handful of standout plays for the City Oilers in a Basketball Africa League game.

Maluach is the sixth and final freshman from the Class of 2024 to sign on to the Blue Devils. He’ll play alongside Cooper Flagg, the top recruit in the country. The other four members of the class all rank inside the top 51 on 247Sports ranking, with three inside the top 20.

Duke basketball signee Isaiah Evans shares photo of him and Cooper Flagg at Jordan Brand Classic

Evans, a five-star recruit, shared a photo of him and future Duke teammate Cooper Flagg from the Jordan Brand Classic on Monday.

Isaiah Evans and Cooper Flagg played on different teams during Sunday’s Jordan Brand Classic in Brooklyn, but they’re clearly excited to play together in Durham this fall.

On Monday morning, Evans shared a photo of the two standing together during the game on social media.

Flagg scored 19 points and came down with 10 rebounds during the showcase, but Evans and Team Flight came away with the victory.

Evans and Flagg, two of the six stellar freshmen in Duke’s top-ranked 2024 recruiting class, already have plenty of experience with each other. They played on the same team at the McDonald’s All-American Game and the Nike Hoop Summit before they squared off in Sunday’s game.

In fact, during the Hoop Summit, they went viral after Flagg set Evans up for a dunk and jumped in the air as Evans threw down the jam. Evans tweeted about that moment, too.

When and how to watch Cooper Flagg, other Duke commits at the Jordan Brand Classic

Cooper Flagg and four other fellow Duke signees lace up their shoes for Sunday’s Jordan Brand Classic. Check out when and where you can watch here.

Duke fans can get another sneak peek of the 2024-25 Duke men’s basketball team on Sunday night.

All five U.S.-based Blue Devils signees for the incoming Class of 2024, including top-ranked prospect Cooper Flagg, are on the roster for the Jordan Brand Classic. The exhibition pits some of the best high school basketball players in the country against each other.

Flagg, Isaiah Evans, Kon Knueppel, Darren Harris, and Patrick Ngongba will all be at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the game. The boy’s game tips off at 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday evening, and fans can watch either through the NBA app or on the NBA YouTube channel.

Flagg already impressed scouts and fans alike at a similar showcase, the Nike Hoop Summit, last week. He put up a 19-point double-double to help Team USA to a comfortable victory.

Based on reactions to Saturday’s practice sessions, Duke fans can expect a similar performance this weekend.

Duke signee Isaiah Evans ranked as Charlotte’s best high school men’s player in 40 years

The Charlotte Observer considers Duke signee Isaiah Evans, the two-time North Carolina Mr. Basketball winner, the city’s best high school player from the last four decades

The Charlotte area hasn’t seen many players like Duke signee Isaiah Evans. In fact, according to the Charlotte Observer’s Langston Wertz Jr., there hasn’t been a better men’s high school basketball player from the city in four decades.

Evans, the No. 12 player in the Class of 2024 according to 247Sports, led North Mecklenburg to a state title as a senior after the Vikings finished with a 30-3 record. He was recently named North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball for a second straight season.

Evans, who was also named the Gatorade North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year, averaged 27.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. He was honored as a MaxPreps First-Team All-American alongside future teammate Cooper Flagg.

The future Blue Devil should quickly endear himself to the Cameron Crazies. He’s already gone viral for jawing at UNC fans at one of his high school games, and he cracked a joke about Tar Heels starter Cormac Ryan’s age during media availability ahead of the McDonald’s All-American Game.

Andy Katz puts Duke second in way-too-early power rankings for next season

Andy Katz released his way-too-early Power 36 rankings for the 2024-2025 season, and the Duke Blue Devils ranked No. 2 overall.

Andy Katz released his way-too-early Power 36 rankings for the 2024-2025 season, and the Duke Blue Devils ranked No. 2 overall.

Duke came in one spot behind the Houston Cougars, whom the Blue Devils defeated in the Sweet 16 this past NCAA Tournament.

Duke boasts the No. 1 recruiting class for next season. Cooper Flagg, the top-ranked player in the Class of 2024, will likely be the face of the Blue Devils next season. Duke’s recruiting class features three other five-star recruits alongside Flagg, including South Sudanese center Khaman Maluach and North Carolina Mr. Basketball Isaiah Evans.

Katz is one of the rare few with someone other than the Blue Devils atop his projected rankings. Duke came in first in the early 2024-25 rankings from USA TODAY Sports, The Athletic, and ESPN.

The team’s roster turnover is still ongoing. As of now, forward Mark Mitchell and center Christian Reeves have entered the transfer portal.

Guard Jared McCain and Kyle Filipowski are both getting NBA Draft lottery projections but have yet to announce whether they’ll return to Duke for another season.

Duke sits atop USA TODAY Sports’ early 2024-25 men’s college basketball rankings

USA TODAY Sports released its early rankings for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season on Tuesday morning, and guess who sat atop the list?

The Blue Devils might be the consensus top team in men’s basketball next season.

USA TODAY Sports writers Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, and Eddie Timanus released their early projected rankings for the 2024-25 season on Monday morning, just hours after Connecticut cut down the nets for the second straight year. The trio had Duke at the very top of the list.

The Blue Devils made the Elite Eight this year, defeating No. 1 seed Houston on the way. Next year, head coach Jon Scheyer welcomes four five-star prospects and two more four-star freshmen into the building. Myerberg, Smith, and Timanus said the 2024 recruiting class makes the Blue Devils one of the youngest, deepest teams in the country.

“It will be on coach Jon Scheyer to push all the right buttons and find the best rotation for a team that looks on paper to be very capable of winning the national title,” they wrote.

It remains to be seen which players from this past season will return, with starters Kyle Filipowski, Jared McCain, Tyrese Proctor, and Mark Mitchell weighing the NBA or the transfer portal, but the USA TODAY Sports staff believes in the Blue Devils no matter who stays or goes.

Alabama, who made the Final Four this season, came in second in the site’s early rankings. Iowa State, Kansas, and the national champion Huskies followed to finish the top five in order.

Rival North Carolina came immediately after in sixth. Clemson (13th) was the only other ACC team on the list.

SLAM HS releases a ‘Day in the Life’ video for Duke signee Isaiah Evans

Get to know Duke signee Isaiah Evans, a five-star recruit who has already traded barbs with UNC fans, with SLAM HS’s ‘Day in the Life’ video released on Thursday.

If Duke fans want to get to know future Blue Devil Isaiah Evans, SLAM HIGH SCHOOL gave them a good chance on Thursday.

The YouTube channel released an 18-minute video detailing a day in the life of the five-star Duke signee, a member of Duke’s anticipated 2024 recruiting class.

Evans has already proven to be a fun figure in the Blue Devils program. He made headlines for having a great game in front of fans in North Carolina gear, shouting at them after he made 3-pointers. He also chirped with Tar Heels commits at the McDonald’s All-American Game’s media sessions, making fun of UNC starter Cormac Ryan’s age.

Humor aside, Evans is a great basketball player, too. He was named North Carolina’s Mr. Basketball for the second straight year and helped lead North Mecklenburg to a state title.

“If he starts clapping those hands?” his head coach, Duane Lewis, said. “Watch out.”

Get to know Evans with the video above.

Duke signee Darren Harris drops 36 points in victory over IMG Academy

Duke signee Darren Harris, a member of the vaunted 2024 recruiting class, scored 36 points in a victory over IMG Academy on Thursday.

Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans drew headlines at the McDonald’s All-American Game earlier this week, but future teammate Darren Harris stole the show on Thursday.

The four-star Duke signee helped lead Paul VI Catholic to a 101-89 victory over IMG Academy after he scored 36 points, including a 19-point third quarter.

Harris finished the game 12/21 from the floor after making five of his nine 3-point attempts. He also pulled down seven rebounds.

The game was part of the Chipotle Nationals tournament, pitting the nation’s best high school basketball teams against each other. Paul VI is the No. 2 overall seed in the tournament behind only Flagg’s Montverde Academy.

Harris’s 36 points are the second most in a single game during the tournament. The record? 37 points by Duke’s own Austin Rivers back in 2010.

Harris’s teammate Patrick Ngongba, another member of Duke’s fantastic 2024 recruiting class, added six points and five rebounds.

Harris and his team will play the winner of Thursday night’s game between Prolific Prep and Link Academy. The semifinal game will air on ESPN2 at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

Ian Jackson and Drake Powell impress at 2024 McDAAG

I can’t wait to watch Ian Jackson and Drake Powell tear up the court in Chapel Hill next year.

It’s going to be a fun season in Chapel Hill next year.

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis has proven his strengths again on the recruiting trail, nabbing a pair of 5-stars in Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, the hometown kid who plays high school basketball 20 minutes from campus. Joining the two 5-stars is James Brown, the 4-star center from Chicago, Ill. who plays at Link Academy.

Jackson and Powell received the opportunities of a lifetime this week, as they suited up for the East squad in Tuesday’s McDonalds All-American game. Both UNC signees played with several future opponents, including Duke signees Cooper Flagg and Isaiah Evans.

While Powell did not score in the McDAAG, he provided valuable defense, as evidenced by his four rebounds and two steals. Don’t be fooled – Powell can score, averaging 16.6 points per game across his high school career.

“Along with it being competitive, it is very high energy and everyone is intense,” Powell told 247 Sports’ Eric Bossi on playing with his McDAAG teammates. “We’ve been focusing on sharing the basketball a bit more and playing off of one another.”

Jackson was one of the McDAAG’s offensive stars, scoring 21 points on 9-of-21 shooting. He likely would’ve been the MVP, but East teammate/ Maryland signee Derik Queen (23) and Rutgers signee Dylan Harper (22) barely outscored him.

“It’s been great just getting the opportunity to be here and compete against the players from around the country, who are considered the top players,” Jackson told Bossi on playing with his McDAAG teammates. “It’s competitive and I’ve had fun.”

Expect to see more of the same in Chapel Hill next year, only Powell will be scoring significantly more.

Can we fast-forward to November?

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WATCH: Ian Jackson’s highlights from the McDonalds’ All-American Game

Regardless of who returns to the UNC men’s basketball team next year, Hubert Davis has to find a way to get Ian Jackson minutes. Just watch Jackson’s McDaag highlights.

Tuesday, April 2 was a dream come true for some of the country’s top high school basketball players, as they played in the McDonalds All-American Game in Houston, Texas’ Toyota Center.

Fans might immediately recognize the names Cooper Flagg (top 2024 prospect, committed to Duke) and Boogie Fland (committed to Kentucky), but it was a UNC 5-star who stole the offensive show in the East’s comeback, 88-86 victory.

Ian Jackson, the 6’4″ shooting guard from Bronx, NY, scored 21 points to finish two behind Derik Queen for the East’s point high.

I watched a little bit of the game, seeing just how special Jackson can be in Chapel Hill. Take a look at this highlight compilation of his big night:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5S9SqigYWn/

Wow. That’s all I can say.

In his highlight clip, Jackson showcases his ability to speed past his opponent and finish. He slammed down a couple of one-handed dunks, caught a pass and finished an impressive standing dunk, plus finished at the rim on a couple layup attempts.

Jackson’s 21 points played a major role in the East’s big comeback. At one point in the second quarter, the Dylan Harper-led West squad was up by double-digits.

Just wait until Jackson dazzles the college circuit in Carolina Blue next year.

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