Duke got in early with Beckham Black, and the 5-star guard keeps looking better every time the lights come on.
The Blue Devils were one of the first programs to offer Black, and that call looks smarter by the week. ESPN’s latest SC Next update pushed the 6-foot-3 guard to No. 1 overall in the 2027 class, while 247Sports still has him at No. 2 overall and the top point guard in its 2027 Composite Rankings. Either way, Black has moved himself into the very top tier of the class.
That rise has been built on a summer full of production. Black opened things by playing for Team USA at the FIBA U17 Men’s World Cup, where he teamed with incoming Duke rookie Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and helped the Americans win gold.
In seven games, Black averaged 12.3 points, 8.3 assists and 3.0 steals while shooting 52.3% from the field and 39.3% from three on 4.0 attempts per game in 20.6 minutes. He led Team USA in assists.
His play has carried over to the grassroots circuit, where he has been steady at Nike EYBL Session 4 in Las Vegas with AB Elite. Through four games there, Black is putting up 18.5 points and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 39.7% overall and 37.9% from deep on 7.3 three-point attempts a night.
He had one of his biggest scoring outings on July 9, dropping 28 points and three assists in a 63-49 win over Team Why Not. Black finished that game 8-of-15 from the floor and 4-of-8 from long range.
The broader EYBL numbers are even more eye-catching. Across 15 games for AB Elite, Black is leading the team in points at 20.7 per game, assists at 5.5 and steals at 1.6.
Duke is far from alone in the chase. Michigan, Kansas, Kentucky, Texas and Arkansas have all offered Black, but the Blue Devils remain firmly in the mix for one of the best guards in high school basketball.
In Other News...
Boumtje Boumtje Just Gave Duke Fans An Early UNC Rivalry Moment
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is already giving Duke fans a taste of what his arrival could mean in the sports fiercest neighborhood rivalry. The incoming freshman, whose international tournament play has helped put him on the radar, talked through his recruitment and commitment on The Brotherhood Podcast, where he made clear that choosing Duke felt like the right move for where he wants his college career to go.
The timing only adds to the intrigue with another Duke-UNC chapter looming next season, especially with North Carolina bringing in Michael Malone as its new head coach. Boumtje Boumtjes comments also hint at a matchup layer beyond the usual rivalry heat, since he could eventually share the floor with former FC Barcelona teammate Sayon Keita, now an incoming freshman for the Tar Heels. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Hurley Just Gave Duke Fans More Fuel For This Rematch
Dan Hurley has never been shy about reminding people what UConn has done lately, and his latest interview only adds another layer to a rivalry that already has plenty of edge. The Huskies coach leaned on the programs recent national championships and NBA draft success while talking up what his team has built, a message that sounded aimed squarely at the Blue Devils even without naming them outright.
For Duke, the timing makes it even more interesting. Jon Scheyers team is still carrying the sting of that Elite Eight loss to UConn, and the two programs are already set to meet again in November in Las Vegas, giving both sides another chance to turn the conversation into something on the floor. Hurley has given the rematch a little extra juice, and Blue Devils fans have every reason to circle it now. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Evans' Brutal Start Is Hiding One Encouraging Sign
Isaiah Evans has had a rough opening stretch in Summer League, and the shot has not come around yet. The former Duke wing has been trying to find a rhythm in Las Vegas after a late trade finalization slowed his arrival, leaving him behind from the start and short on the kind of practice time that usually helps a young player settle in.
Even so, there has been one clear reason to keep watching. Evans has stayed locked in defensively, competing hard and showing the kind of engagement that can travel even when the jumper does not. For a player whose offense is still catching up, that end of the floor is giving him something to build on while the rest of his game gets back on schedule. [Read more 🡒]