Duke’s place in the recruiting race may be tested this weekend in Gainesville.
Florida is set to host two of the biggest names on Duke’s board, with five-star prospects Beckham Black and Colton Hiller both taking official visits. For Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils, that’s the kind of development that can tighten a recruiting battle in a hurry.
Black and Hiller sit near the top of Duke’s wish list across the next two classes. Black, a 2027 guard, is arguably the Blue Devils’ top target in that cycle.
Scheyer has made a strong push after watching him closely on the Nike EYBL circuit, and Black’s profile only adds to the intrigue. He’s the younger brother of former Arkansas and current Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black, the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Composite rankings have him at No. 2 overall, and his recruitment is already moving at full speed. He has taken an official visit to Georgetown, and Florida and Texas are both on his calendar in the coming weeks.
Duke is expected to keep working to get him to Durham for an official visit before the early signing period begins in November.
Hiller brings a different kind of pressure point. With AJ Williams reclassifying into 2027, Hiller now stands as the No. 1 player in the 2028 class.
Duke has been viewed as a strong favorite for him for a while, but Florida has a real angle here. His brother, Maxwell Hiller, is a 5-star offensive line recruit in the 2027 football class and is already committed to the Gators.
That family connection makes Gainesville an especially dangerous place for Duke’s hopes.
There’s still plenty of time left in Hiller’s recruitment, and other schools will try to get involved. Even so, the early shape of the battle looks a lot like Duke against Florida for the 5-star forward from Pennsylvania.
For now, the Gators get the first crack this weekend. Duke should get its own chance soon enough, but this is the kind of visit list that can make a recruiting board feel a whole lot more complicated.
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