Duke was back out on the trail Thursday evening, and the target list appears to start with the same name that has been hovering near the top for months: Beckham Black.
The Southeastern Prep Academy point guard, who sits at No. 1 in the 247Sports 2027 Composite, is widely viewed as a major Duke priority in the class. According to Stock Risers’ Jake Weingarten on social media, the Blue Devils had at least one coach in attendance at Southeastern Prep, where Black is the only player on the roster who currently holds a Duke offer.
The evening draw at Southeastern Prep also included Arkansas, USC, UNC, UCF, Kansas, Georgetown, BYU, Florida, Georgia Tech, Sam Houston State and Cal. The roster features two top-10 prospects in CJ Rosser and Black.
Black, the younger brother of Orlando Magic point guard and former Arkansas standout Anthony Black, picked up his Duke offer in May. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard now has more than two dozen offers and has started taking official visits. Per 247Sports, he visited Florida last week and is at Texas this week.
247Sports national recruiting analyst Adam Finkelstein offered a strong read on Black in July, writing: "Black is one the highest floor point guard prospects we've seen in several years," Finkelstein wrote in July. "He has a uniquely wide overlap of assets with positional size, innate competitiveness, poise, confidence, consistently developing skill, and an instinctive feel for the game. He can not only blend scoring and passing, but tailor them to his environment.
"While his mind for the game may be his best asset, it is just one of several building blocks. He also has velcro-like hands, dexterity, footwork, balance from a strong lower body, and floor vision..."
Duke’s track record in recruiting under Jon Scheyer is hard to ignore. The Blue Devils have finished either No. 1 or No. 2 in each of Scheyer’s five recruiting cycles, so a head-to-head battle for a top-tier talent like Black is never something to dismiss lightly.
Still, there is one wrinkle worth noting: Duke could have a crowded backcourt picture in 2026-27. Sophomore Cayden Boozer and freshman Deron Rippey Jr. are both former five-star guards, and neither currently appears on most 2027 NBA mock drafts or big boards.
At the moment, Black is the only full-time point guard on Duke’s offer list.
The Blue Devils already have one 2027 commitment in Wisconsin Lutheran five-star power forward Kager Knueppel. Their other known 2027 offers include Millennium (Ariz.) five-star combo guard Adan Diggs, Compass Prep (Ariz.) five-star small forward DeMarcus Henry, Eagle’s Landing (Ga.) five-star small forward AJ Williams, Hillgrove (Ga.) five-star small forward Asa Montgomery, Fort Erie International (Ont.) five-star power forward Deng Ngor and Prolific Prep (Fla.) five-star center Lewis Uvwo.
In Other News...
Dukes Offense Could Decide Everything Against Illinois Early
Illinois and Duke both arrive at Gies Memorial Stadium after opening-week wins, but the shape of this matchup seems likely to turn on who can dictate terms early. For Illinois, the cleanest path is to get out in front and make Duke play from behind, because that would let the Illini lean into the kind of defensive game plan they want and keep the contest from settling into the rhythm the Blue Devils prefer.
Dukes offense is built to make opponents pay when the game stays on its script, and Illinois knows the stakes of letting that happen. If the Illini can force longer drives, tighter windows and more pressure on the quarterback, the matchup shifts toward a defense that is comfortable challenging passing games. If not, Duke has enough balance to make the afternoon feel very different in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Volleyball Faces A Momentum Test Before The Real Grind Begins
Duke volleyball is set for one last tune-up at Cameron Indoor Stadium before the schedule turns serious, welcoming a pair of non-conference visitors that should give the Blue Devils a final read on where they stand. The Blue Devils come in at 5-1 and fresh off a 3-0 win over Charleston Southern, a result that kept the early momentum rolling and offered another look at a team that has handled most of its non-league work with relative ease so far.
The weekend also gives Duke a chance to stack one more solid performance against two different styles before the grind ramps up. Marshall and Belmont each bring their own scouting puzzles, and with the home non-conference slate almost complete, the Blue Devils are chasing more than just two wins - they are trying to keep building rhythm, sharpen their play and head into the tougher stretch with answers instead of questions. [Read more 🡒]
Duke's Early Statement Chance Rests On One Road Test Strength
Duke heads into Week 2 with a chance to back up an encouraging opener against Tulane by showing the same defensive edge on the road against Illinois. The Blue Devils looked faster and more disruptive in that first game, and Nate Sheppard gave them a rushing presence that helps balance what they want to do offensively. This trip offers an early measuring stick, especially because Illinois has already shown vulnerability against the run and has to prove it can clean up some protection and execution issues.
From Dukes side, the matchup also feels like a test of whether the front can keep influencing games the way it did a week ago. Illinois quarterback Katin Houser has had a rough time in previous chances against Power 4 competition, which adds another layer to a defense that appears more equipped to press an advantage than it was a year ago. If the Blue Devils can keep winning at the line of scrimmage, they can make this the kind of road game that says a lot about where the program is headed. [Read more 🡒]