Duke is set to get a major look from one of the top names in the 2027 class this weekend, and the Blue Devils have a real chance to make a move.
Five-star small forward Asa Montgomery is scheduled to take his official visit to Duke, giving Jon Scheyer and his staff a chance to build on the momentum they’ve already created in this recruitment. Duke has been heavily involved with Montgomery lately and recently made a strong impression during an in-home visit.
That visit has become a talking point among recruiting observers. Adam Finkelstein and Eric Bossi recently discussed Montgomery as one of the bigger names in the 2027 cycle, and Bossi said he’d heard the in-home with Scheyer was a home run. He also added that schools involved with Montgomery are a little worried about Duke coming in and winning the recruitment, something Scheyer has done before.
Montgomery has already been on visits to LSU, Florida, UConn, and North Carolina, so the Blue Devils are entering a competitive race. Still, this weekend gives Duke a chance to push itself to the front and make life uncomfortable for the Tar Heels in the process.
The timing matters for Duke, too. The Blue Devils are back in practice for the 2026-27 season and coming off another Elite Eight run that ended with a 19-point lead slipping away against UConn. Even so, this roster is being viewed as one of Scheyer’s best yet, with four of the team’s six top scorers returning and the nation’s top overall recruiting class arriving.
As for the 2027 class, Duke currently has just one commitment: Kager Kneuppel, who pledged over the summer. The Blue Devils aren’t expected to bring in a huge group next cycle, perhaps only one or two more players, which makes Montgomery even more important. With limited spots and limited targets, landing a frontcourt piece like Montgomery would be a major win alongside Knueppel.
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The challenge, as Scheyer sees it, is that the Blue Devils cannot simply assume last seasons formula will show up again in the same way. The pieces that made that group so difficult to copy are not easy to replace, and the next step is making sure this roster keeps strengthening its foundation while aiming to compete deep into the season. [Read more 🡒]