Duke’s recruiting board is starting to take shape, and the next wave of official visits gives a clearer picture of where Jon Scheyer and his staff are aiming in the 2027 and 2028 classes.
The biggest wrinkle hanging over all of it is the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model. That could change how Duke approaches future classes, especially the 2027 group and the kinds of players it targets. In that scenario, all four of Duke’s guards on this season’s roster - John Blackwell, Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer, and Deron Rippey Jr. - could be back for the 2027-28 season.
That backdrop makes the Blue Devils’ interest in 2027 5-star small forward Asa Montgomery even more notable. Duke is scheduled to host the 6-foot-7, 215-pound wing for an official visit on Oct. 2, and he is the only 2027 prospect other than Deng Ngor that the program had lined up for a visit before Ngor committed to Ohio State.
Montgomery has moved fast up the board. The Hillgrove High School (GA) standout is now rated No. 8 overall and No. 3 among small forwards in the 2027 class by the 247Sports 2027 Composite Rankings.
Duke offered him in August, and since then the offer sheet has kept growing. He has already taken official visits to LSU, Georgia Tech, Florida, UConn, and North Carolina.
After his trip to Durham, he’s set to visit Arizona and Louisville.
He also spent part of the summer on a big stage at the FIBA U17 World Cup, where he played alongside Duke freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and potential 2027 target Beckham Black. Montgomery posted 9.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game in 17.0 minutes per game.
For Duke, the fit is easy to understand. Montgomery brings the kind of length and versatility that Scheyer likes on the wing, along with two-way impact and a scoring game that still has room to grow. He has shown he can rebound, defend multiple spots, and provide upside as a scorer down the line.
A few days later, Duke will welcome another elite target to campus. Colton Hiller, the No. 1 overall player in the 2028 class according to the 247Sports Composite, is set for an official visit on Oct. 5.
The 6-foot-6 Coatesville, Pa., prospect has been on Duke’s radar for a while. He already made an official visit to Florida on Sept. 5 and has also taken unofficial visits to Duke and Alabama. His offer list includes Michigan, Kansas, UConn, North Carolina, Louisville, Virginia, and Auburn, among others.
Hiller was also in the building when Duke beat Michigan 68-63 in Washington, D.C., last season. That game came against the then-No. 1 Wolverines, and the Blue Devils walked out with the win.
One more detail to keep an eye on in Hiller’s recruitment: his older brother, Maxwell Hiller, is currently committed to Florida for football. Maxwell is rated No. 2 overall and No. 1 IOL in the 2027 class by the 247Sports Composite.
In Other News...
Cameron Boozer Is Already Earning The Kind Of NBA Praise Duke Expected
Cameron Boozers one-and-done season at Duke already gave the Blue Devils plenty to point to when it came to his profile as a future pro, and that conversation only got louder after the 2026 NBA Draft. Selected No. 3 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, Boozer arrived in the league with the kind of reputation Duke fans are used to seeing attached to elite recruits who do not need long to prove they belong.
Former Virginia guard Ty Jerome added to that buzz during media day, offering a public nod to Boozers maturity and the broader package that made him such a coveted prospect. For Duke, it is another reminder that Boozers value was never just about the ranking or the hype, but about how quickly he earned trust as a leader and how smoothly he translated that into the next level. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Freshman Already Drawing Buzz As A Real Piece This Season
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje arrives at Duke with a different kind of resume than most freshmen. The 17-year-old spent his early career at FC Barcelona before making the jump to Durham, and his background has already given the Blue Devils another young frontcourt piece worth watching as the season gets underway.
There is still an adjustment period ahead as he settles into college basketball, but the early buzz around Boumtje Boumtje is real enough to have his teammates talking. Sophomore Dame Sarr, another former FC Barcelona player, has been among those expressing confidence in what Boumtje Boumtje can become, and Duke will be counting on that transition to keep moving in the right direction as his role grows. [Read more 🡒]
Jon Scheyer Knows What This Duke Team Must Finally Prove
Jon Scheyer has spent enough time around Duke basketball to know the standard never really loosens, even after seasons that push the Blue Devils close to the top of the sport. As he looks at this years roster, the message is less about chasing the exact feel of recent teams and more about carrying forward what worked while trying to keep Duke in the hunt at the highest level.
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 🡒]