Asa Montgomery’s commitment to Duke on Wednesday afternoon didn’t exactly qualify as a recruiting shock. It was more of a formality that had been building for weeks.
The five-star 2027 forward chose the Blue Devils over North Carolina, UConn, Georgia Tech, LSU, and other contenders, giving Jon Scheyer another high-level piece in what is already shaping up as a strong 2027 class. Montgomery is listed at 6-foot-7 and ranked No. 3 overall in the 2027 class by Rivals.
North Carolina made its pitch. Montgomery took his official visit to Chapel Hill on September 25, and the Tar Heels had a chance to sell him on the program and its vision. But the trail quickly moved in Duke’s direction when Montgomery’s next official stop came just eight miles down Tobacco Road.
His official visit to Duke followed the next week, when he attended the Blue Devils’ Countdown to Craziness event. From there, the momentum around this recruitment shifted hard. Crystal Ball predictions for Duke started coming in shortly after that trip, and then Montgomery canceled previously scheduled visits to Arizona and Louisville.
By the time Wednesday arrived, the destination was pretty clear.
Montgomery now joins Kager Knueppel and Luke Paul in Duke’s 2027 recruiting class, adding another major name to a group that keeps getting stronger. His rise has been fast, too, as he has climbed the recruiting rankings over the last several months and established himself as one of the premier prospects in his class.
For North Carolina, the focus now turns elsewhere. DeMarcus Henry and CJ Rosser remain the names the Tar Heels have treated as priorities, and while they would have loved to land Montgomery, the staff had already moved on to other top-tier targets. Now the attention shifts to Henry, with UNC hoping he becomes the program’s first 2027 commit on Friday.
In Other News...
Michigan State Just Made An Early Push For A Top Defensive Piece
Michigan States staff has already started laying groundwork for the future on defense, and one of the first names to surface is Kaleb Woseley. The highly rated cornerback from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia is part of the 2028 recruiting class, and the Spartans have now joined a growing list of programs showing early interest in a prospect who already carries a four-star composite rating.
For a program trying to build out its defensive pipeline through high school recruiting, getting in early on a player like Woseley matters. He has multiple offers on the board, which only adds to the competition, and Michigan States push is an indication that the Spartans are not waiting around to identify the next wave of secondary talent. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Rivalry Could Be Headed For Another Jarring Change
The latest round of coaching chatter around the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry has more to do with instability than the game itself, and that is becoming a familiar theme. A CBS report suggested Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham could be facing a one-and-done run because of the programs struggles and the criticism piling up around him, another reminder that the rivalry has been shaped as much by turnover on the sidelines as by what happens on the field.
From Michigan States perspective, Pat Fitzgerald does not appear to be in the same kind of danger right now, even with the usual pressures that come with the job. Still, the possibility of another abrupt change at Michigan would add another layer of uncertainty to a rivalry that has already seen plenty of movement in recent years, and it would be another storyline the Spartans would have to navigate whether or not the on-field matchup changes with it. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Brings A Real Test To College Hockeys Biggest Stage
Michigan State is stepping into one of college hockeys biggest showcase moments with plenty of attention already attached. The Spartans, ranked No. 4 nationally, will have their game carried across NCHC.tv, Midco Sports and Fox 47.2, giving a wider audience a chance to see a roster that has quickly built real credibility. This is also the kind of stage where a young team can either look like a contender or get exposed, and Michigan State arrives with enough talent to make it a compelling watch.
One of the biggest reasons for that confidence has been freshman goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen, who has been strong early and sits near the top nationally in save percentage and goals against average. Add in a roster that features a significant number of NHL draft picks, and the Spartans are not just showing up for a showcase event, they are bringing the kind of firepower and poise that can make this game feel like more than a one-night exhibition. The question now is how well that talent holds up against a true test on a bigger stage. [Read more 🡒]