Duke’s pursuit of Colton Hiller is getting more serious, and the latest buzz suggests the five-star wing may be heading toward a faster timetable than originally expected.
The Coatesville Area High School junior, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound small forward ranked No. 2 overall in the 247Sports 2028 Composite, has reportedly been weighing a reclassification to 2027. On a CBS Sports College Basketball show this week, national recruiting insiders Adam Finkelstein and Eric Bossi both pointed to that possibility as the direction things seem to be moving.
"Now, it seems like he's going to follow the Boumtje Boumtje plan...and is leaning toward reclassification, even though he would have to spend two years in college basketball," Finkelstein said about Hiller, who turned 16 in June. "That is not yet finalized."
Where Hiller ends up is still unsettled, but the field appears to have narrowed. Bossi said the race is basically coming down to Duke and Florida.
"Duke and Florida," Bossi confirmed to Finkelstein about Hiller's top suitors. "With Florida, they've got a commitment from his brother, Max Hiller, who is the No. 2 football prospect in the class of 2027.
So, how about that, having two No. 2 players in the country having breakfast every morning together in your house? So, he's been to Florida for an official [visit].
Obviously, there's a lot of familiarity with them. And it would be pretty nice if you're a family to have both your sons at the same school.
"Duke, he just took an official visit there [on Oct. 5], may have long been considered a team that is sort of kind of a 'dream school' type scenario. And certainly, when Duke locks in on wings - or really any position - they tend to get what they want...We could see something from [Hiller] in the next month or so."
The current prediction services lean Blue Devil. Hiller’s 247Sports Crystal Ball includes two forecasts, both favoring Duke over Florida, and Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine also lists Duke as the leader.
Finkelstein also offered a detailed scouting read on Hiller back in July after another strong grassroots showing.
"Hiller is a big-bodied perimeter scorer who combines size, strength, skill, and an understanding of how to dictate his own pace and still get to all his spots without getting sped up," Finkelstein noted back in July after Hiller shined once again in top-tier grassroots action. "He plays with real confidence and swag, can get his own shot at virtually any level, and possesses an extremely advanced offensive repertoire for his age."
Duke already has two commitments in the 2027 class: Australian point guard Luke Paul and Wisconsin Lutheran High School five-star power forward Kager Knueppel. On the 2028 board, the Blue Devils have offers out to Hiller, St. Francis High School (Calif.) five-star center Yann Kamagate, and, as of this week, two more five-star juniors in Faith Family Academy (Texas) point guard Josiah Rose and The Tatnall School (Del.) small forward Mason Collins.
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