Duke’s 2027 recruiting push is already rolling, and the Blue Devils are now taking a look at the next wave behind it.
Jon Scheyer’s staff has picked up steam with that 2027 class after landing heralded Australian guard Luke Paul this week to join Wisconsin Lutheran School five-star forward Kager Knueppel. Duke is also hosting one of the top 2027 American prospects right now in Hillgrove High School (Ga.) five-star forward Asa Montgomery, who remains a priority target in Durham.
The Blue Devils aren’t stopping there. They already have offers out to the top two prospects in the 2028 class: Coatesville Area High School (Pa.) forward Colton Hiller and St.
Francis High School (Calif.) center Yann Kamagate. And now, reports this week suggest Duke is starting to build out its 2029 board as well.
One name to watch is Springdale Prep (Md.) guard Jordan Costley.
Prep Hoops’ Colby Giacubeno posted on social media earlier this week that at least one member of Duke’s recruiting staff was at Springdale Prep on Wednesday to see Costley in person.
Duke was in today for the No. 1 ranked @PrepHoopsMD 2029 prospect Jordan Costley. The 6’4” combo guard will be in action this weekend at @TheChallenge___ before setting off for USA Minicamp Oct. 9-11. pic.twitter.com/X7c8WzQLmi
Costley, a 6-foot-4, 160-pound sophomore, is currently ranked No. 49 overall and No. 6 among point guards in the 2029 class by Rivals. Over the last six months, he has picked up offers from Mississippi State, Villanova, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and Miami.
"Costley made it on our radar with his play both on the Under Armour circuit and with Springdale Prep during DMV Live," 247Sports' Dushawn London noted in August. "Costley has good size, is an advanced playmaker, can shoot the three, get downhill and has a good overall feel for the game. It is still early for the class of 2029, but he will be a prospect to monitor."
Duke was also mentioned Thursday afternoon in another report from London, who said the Blue Devils are among the schools that have recently been in to see The St. James forward Harlem Nunez. Maryland, Mississippi State, and Georgetown were the other programs listed as having checked him out in person.
Duke, Maryland, Mississippi State, and Georgetown have all been in to see 2029 forward Harlem Nunez. https://t.co/rd98Y9Vn3T pic.twitter.com/6aCFz9hd1L
Rivals lists the 6-foot-8, 205-pound sophomore at No. 33 overall and No. 10 among small forwards in the class. His early offer list, per 247Sports, includes Maryland, Tennessee State, Illinois, Washington State, and Georgetown, along with several others.
For now, Scheyer and Duke have not issued any offers to 2029 prospects.
In Other News...
Duke's Newcomers Already Created The Roster Battle Fans Wanted
Dukes annual Countdown to Craziness scrimmage did exactly what fans hoped it would do: create a little early-season noise around a roster that suddenly looks a lot more interesting. The white team edged the blue team 29-24, and the event offered a first real glimpse at a mix of newcomers who already seem ready to push for minutes. Freshman Deron Rippey Jr., Patrick Ngongba and transfer John Blackwell all flashed in ways that should only sharpen the competition heading into the season.
There will be some growing pains along the way, especially for freshmen like Joaqim Boumtje Boumtje and Cameron Williams, who are still adjusting to the speed and physicality of college basketball. But that is part of the appeal of this group, too. Duke wanted roster tension, internal pressure and a reason for fans to lean in early, and the scrimmage suggested the Blue Devils may have all three before October is even over. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Season Kickoff Hinted At Two Dangerous ACC Contenders
Dukes annual Countdown to Craziness did what it is supposed to do: turn an offseason showcase into an early look at a program that expects to matter. The men and women both got their moment in front of the Cameron crowd, with Jon Scheyer and Kara Lawson front and center as the school leaned into the kind of optimism that comes after recent NCAA tournament runs and enough returning buzz to make the ACC race feel very real.
The intrigue, though, is different on each side. Scheyers group looks built to be in the national conversation again, even if it does not have an obvious singular face yet, while Lawsons team arrives with a sharper edge after her latest international success with Team USA. Between the scrimmage flashes and the coach-driven confidence, Duke left the building looking less like a school opening a season and more like one with two teams already measuring themselves against the leagues best. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Fans Got Their First Real Clue About This Roster
Dukes annual Countdown to Craziness offered the first real look at this years group inside Cameron Indoor Stadium, with the Blue-White scrimmage giving fans a chance to size up the rotation and get a feel for how the pieces fit. It was the kind of early October snapshot that does not answer every question, but it does at least start to show which players are ready to make an impression before the games count.
The scrimmage had the usual mix of energy and experimentation, and the evening ended with Team White coming out on top in the Elam ending format, thanks to a three-pointer from Deron Rippey Jr. Duke will not have long to sit on the exhibition notes, either, with a scrimmage against Belmont coming up as the next opportunity to see whether the early flashes translate into something more reliable. [Read more 🡒]