Duke’s 2027 board just got a lot more interesting.
For Jon Scheyer, the pitch has already been taking shape around a class built on elite talent and fit: commitment from wing Kager Knueppel, a heavy chase for 5-star center Lewis Uvwo as the rim-protecting anchor Scheyer likes in his system, and a major push for 5-star guard Beckham Black. But the biggest name on Duke’s radar has been 5-star forward AJ Williams, the player Scheyer has treated like the top high school target on the board.
That chase changed on Tuesday.
Williams, who had been the No. 1 player in the 2028 class, announced that he is reclassifying into 2027, according to multiple reports. Joe Tipton reported the news, writing: “NEWS: 2028’s No. 1 overall recruit, AJ Williams, is reclassifying into the 2027 class, he told @Rivals.”
The 6-7 wing from Hampton, Georgia, already had 25 offers, including Duke, North Carolina, Auburn, BYU, Kansas, Georgia, and others. Now that he’s moved up a class, the race for him is set to intensify.
Duke’s interest in Williams was never subtle. Scheyer offered him last month, and that mattered.
At Duke, offers don’t come casually, and Williams was one of only two 2028 prospects to have received one from the Blue Devils, alongside Colton Hiller. With Williams now in 2027, Hiller is the lone 2028 player still holding a Duke offer.
That’s part of what makes Williams such a big deal for this staff. Scheyer has built a reputation for identifying his guys early and landing them, and Williams fit that mold from the start. The Blue Devils have been on him for a while, and the offer only confirmed how high he sits on their board.
The talent is obvious, too. Reclassifying usually comes with a ranking hit, at least at first, but Williams did not fall far. He slipped a bit and remains a top-five player in the composite.
Duke has long been viewed as the favorite, but this recruitment won’t be a straight line to the finish. BYU has shown it will spend aggressively, as seen with AJ Dybantsa last year. Arkansas and John Calipari are recruiting at a level that can match just about anyone, and Georgia can sell the pull of staying close to home and taking the Anthony Edwards path.
So the battle is real. Still, Scheyer has earned the benefit of the doubt in these situations, and Duke’s dream 2027 group of Williams, Black, Uvwo, and Knueppel is still very much in play.
In Other News...
Jeff Brohm Hints Louisville May Not Be Done Adding Veteran Help
Louisville opened fall camp with its first practice, and the early focus was already tilted toward depth and durability. Star running back Isaac Brown sat out because of an injury, a reminder that every preseason rep matters, and Jeff Brohm used the moment to acknowledge that the roster picture could still change as the Cardinals settle into camp.
Brohm said the staff is keeping tabs on the recent eligibility ruling that could give 2022 seniors another year, and Louisville is looking into veteran options that might fit that category. Any move in that direction would still need to clear the usual hurdles before it becomes real, but it is another sign that the Cardinals may not be finished shaping the roster before the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Brohm Hints Louisville Could Still Add Veteran Help
Louisville is keeping its options open as the offseason roster picture continues to shift, with Jeff Brohm acknowledging the program is looking at whether veteran help could still be added through the fifth-year route. The head coach said the Cardinals are monitoring the impact of a preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to declare certain athletes eligible for a fifth season, a development that has created a new layer of possibility for teams willing to act quickly.
Brohm made clear, though, that Louisville is not rushing into anything until the situation settles down. The staff is waiting for the ruling to become fully clear and for approval from the conference and the administration before moving forward, even as the program has already been in contact with players who could fit the category. If the eligibility path opens the way it appears to, Louisville could still find a late addition or two from a veteran market worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Has An Isaac Brown Concern It Can't Ignore Yet
Louisville opened fall camp with the kind of early detail coaches never love to manage, and Isaac Brown was at the center of it. The star running back did not take part in the Cardinals first practice because of an injury, a notable development for a player expected to be one of the teams most important pieces as the season approaches.
Jeff Brohm said Brown needs to get a little healthier before he returns to practice, which puts the focus on timing as much as availability. Louisville does not have much margin for concern with a key matchup against Ole Miss coming up, so Browns status is one of the first camp storylines worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]