Duke’s 2027 recruiting board picked up another name on Wednesday, and this one comes with plenty of momentum. Hillgrove High School (Ga.) senior Asa Montgomery announced on social media that he had received an offer from Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils.
Montgomery checks in at 6-foot-7 and 195 pounds, and he’s already carved out a spot among the class’ better-known prospects. The polished small forward sits at No. 28 overall, No. 8 at his position and No. 4 in Georgia in the 247Sports Composite.
His rise has been real, too. Montgomery’s current standing reflects a 45-spot climb from where he was at this point last year.
247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein offered a detailed look at Montgomery in July, pointing to the things that make him appealing on both ends of the floor. “He has good instincts on both ends of the floor and a nose for the ball defensively,” Finkelstein said. “Even in FIBA competition, he showed an ability to get his hands on a lot of balls, rebound it well enough to match up with opposing fours, and be switchable on the ball.
“What's exciting about Montgomery is that he shows a willingness and ability to do the 'little things' that will help him get on the floor right away at the next level, but also has a clear upside...There's a long runway for him to add the scoring and skill we've seen in the grassroots world, ultimately giving him the potential to be a versatile two-way threat.”
The offer may be new, but Montgomery has been on Duke’s radar for a while. Scheyer and his staff were courtside earlier this summer to watch him in Nike EYBL action, and Montgomery also crossed paths with current Blue Devil freshman big man Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje as Team USA teammates during FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup play.
Duke’s first 2027 commitment came in late June, when Wisconsin Lutheran High School 5-star power forward Kager Knueppel, the younger brother of 2024-25 Blue Devil one-and-done and second-year Charlotte Hornets sensation Kon Knueppel, pledged to the program.
Montgomery joins a list of other top targets still on Duke’s board in the class. The Blue Devils have already offered Southeastern Prep Academy (Fla.) 5-star point guard Beckham Black, Millennium High School (Ariz.) 5-star combo guard Adan Diggs, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (Ga.) 5-star small forward AJ Williams and Prolific Prep (Fla.) 5-star center Lewis Uvwo.
Fort Erie International Academy (Ont.) senior and 4-star power forward Deng Ngor has also set an official visit with Duke.
For now, Duke’s lone 2027 commit class ranks No. 8 in the cycle, according to 247Sports.
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Nate Sheppard is part of that shift, giving Duke a backfield piece it can build around, while Jeremiah Hasley and Nate Kurisky give the Blue Devils a different kind of target structure in the passing game. The early read is that the offense will be defined less by star power and more by how quickly those pieces settle into larger roles, especially as Duke tries to establish a clearer identity heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
