Five-star forward Asa Montgomery made it official on Wednesday afternoon, choosing Duke over a group of finalists that included North Carolina, UConn, Georgia Tech, and LSU.
The 6-foot-7 prospect is the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2027 class, per Rivals, and his decision adds another headline name to Jon Scheyer’s early class. Montgomery joins Kager Knueppel and Luke Paul in Duke’s 2027 recruiting haul.
North Carolina had its chance to make a strong impression. Montgomery took an official visit to Chapel Hill on September 25, giving Michael Malone and his staff a shot to sell him on the Tar Heels. But the trail quickly shifted after his next stop, which came just eight miles down Tobacco Road.
Montgomery’s official visit to Duke followed the next week, when he attended the Blue Devils’ Countdown to Craziness event. From there, the momentum became pretty hard to miss. Crystal Ball predictions for Duke started coming in soon after, and Montgomery later canceled previously scheduled visits to Arizona and Louisville.
By the time he announced he would make his decision on Wednesday, the outcome had become widely expected.
Montgomery’s rise has been swift over the last several months, and he now stands among the top prospects in the 2027 class. For North Carolina, the focus now turns elsewhere, with DeMarcus Henry and CJ Rosser remaining the more emphasized targets for the Tar Heels. UNC would have loved to land Montgomery, but once the odds swung away from Chapel Hill, Malone and his staff moved on and kept working other elite options.
Now the Tar Heels are hoping Henry becomes their first 2027 commit on Friday.
In Other News...
Asa Montgomery Commitment Creates A New Duke Roster Debate
Dukes 2027 recruiting picture changed quickly when Asa Montgomery, a 5-star forward ranked No. 8 overall in the class, announced for the Blue Devils. The commitment immediately pushed Dukes class from No. 39 to No. 9 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, a jump that reflects both Montgomerys national profile and the kind of momentum a program can build when it lands an elite piece early.
What makes the addition especially intriguing is the fit. Montgomery brings versatility and defensive ability, traits Duke has long valued in high-end forwards, and he had taken official visits to several other schools before settling on Durham. His pledge gives the Blue Devils a major foundation in 2027, but it also leaves the next roster debate hanging in the air as Duke continues shaping how this class will come together. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Carries Momentum Into A Notre Dame Test With Bigger Stakes
Duke heads into its regular-season finale at Notre Dame with a little more spring in its step after a strong recent stretch. A win over Virginia and a draw against North Carolina have helped steady the Blue Devils at the right time, and now they get one last tuneup at Alumni Stadium before the postseason picture comes into focus.
Ethan Congleton and Jack Ottley have been the driving forces on the stat sheet, giving Duke the kind of production it needs in a matchup with bigger stakes than a typical November game. The challenge is clear enough already, but the Blue Devils are also managing several injuries, which adds another layer to a night that could shape how they enter the playoffs. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Commitment Has Fans Wondering About Jon Scheyers Next Big Prize
Duke kept its recruiting momentum rolling with another major addition in the 2027 class, landing Asa Montgomery, a five-star small forward and a top 10 prospect in the cycle. The commitment gives Jon Scheyer and his staff their third pledge for 2027 and only adds to the sense that the Blue Devils are building another elite group well before those players ever set foot on campus.
Now the attention is shifting to what comes next, and Scheyer appears to already have his eyes on two of the biggest names in the 2028 class. Colton Hiller is on Dukes board with the possibility of reclassifying to 2027, while Yann Kamagate, a highly ranked 7-foot center, already has a Duke offer and plenty of other major programs in the chase, setting up another high-stakes recruitment to watch. [Read more 🡒]