Jon Scheyer’s top 2028 recruiting prize just shifted, and Duke didn’t have to look far to find the new No. 1.
AJ Williams had been the Blue Devils’ headliner in the class for a while, one of only two 2028 prospects with a firm offer from Scheyer. But Williams moved up into the 2027 class this week, where he remains a 5-star, can’t-miss target for Duke. That change cleared the way for another elite name to move into the top spot.
That player is 5-star Colton Hiller, a 6-foot-6 wing/forward from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, and the new No. 1-ranked recruit in the 2028 composite.
Hiller is considered one of the best high school players in the country no matter the class. His offensive package is already advanced, and he’s drawn comparisons to former Duke National Player of the Year and No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. He doesn’t bring the same level of athleticism Flagg had at this stage, but his shooting touch is said to be ahead of where Flagg was development-wise at the same point.
The recruiting picture around Hiller is wide open because he’s piled up offers and can basically choose his landing spot. Duke is widely seen as the early favorite, and Scheyer has built a strong track record when he makes a prospect his clear priority.
Florida is the one school that could complicate things later. Todd Golden’s Gators have not made a major push yet, but there is a family angle: Hiller’s older brother Maxwell is a 5-star offensive line prospect in the 2027 class and is already committed to Jon Sumrall and Florida in the Swamp.
That connection could matter, especially with how strong Florida has become under Golden in recent seasons.
Even so, Hiller looks like the kind of player who won’t spend long in college. He projects as a likely one-and-done and, if his development keeps trending the right way, a quick path to the NBA.
For now, Scheyer is expected to go all-in on Hiller once attention turns fully to the 2028 class, and Duke will also be watching to see which other elite prospects emerge now that Williams has jumped into 2027.
In Other News...
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The complaint stems from two students who missed a required line check and were shifted to a waiting list after their hearing difficulties kept them from hearing the call. At the center of the challenge is a rule that does not allow digital evidence to prove where someone was in line, and the students are pushing to use cell-phone data instead. How the court weighs that request could matter well beyond one campout season. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger question now is how quickly that talent can translate once the pads come on and the evaluations get sharper. Duke has veterans and returning players in the defensive line room, but no one can take a role for granted, and camp is exactly where those decisions start to come into focus. Umeh does not need to solve everything right away, but if his progress keeps trending the right way, he could make the rotation conversation a lot more interesting by the time the staff settles on its preferred front. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes NBA Talent Pipeline Is Turning Heads Before The Season Starts
Before Duke has even played a meaningful game, the program is already showing up in early 2027 NBA mock draft chatter. Tankathons latest projection features four Blue Devils, a reminder that Jon Scheyers roster is stocked with talent that pro scouts are watching closely, even with the season still ahead of them.
Freshman Cameron Williams is the highest-rated Duke name on the board at No. 7, while returning center Patrick Ngongba II checks in at No. 15. Guards Dame Sarr and Cayden Boozer also land in the second round range, and those slots will surely shift as the season unfolds. John Blackwells name adds another layer to the picture after he went through pre-draft activity and then came back to Durham, giving Duke another piece to monitor as the NBA evaluations keep rolling in. [Read more 🡒]