Suffice it to say that recruiting for the Duke Blue Devils this off-season for the 2019 class hasn’t exactly got according to plan. Bryan Antoine, a shooting guard, high on Duke’s target list unexpectedly chose the champion Villanova Wildcats and Scottie Lewis out of NJ chose the Florida Gators. 2 other guard prospects; Nico Mannion (who reclassified to 2019 from 2020) Wildcats and Josiah James decided for Arizona and Tennessee respectively. The Blue Devils attempted to rekindle things with to 20 Center Armando Bacot but the Florida Center chose the Tar Heels of UNC.
Duke has a chance Monday to change the narrative or at least to possibly get a jump start for the class with a possible commitment from small /forward / wing Wendell Moore. Moore is they type of versatile player who can play and defend multiple positions so he would be an important and useful piece in the Duke system. Moore attends Cox Mill High School in Concord, NC and has a final 4 list that includes Wake Forest, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Duke.
The immediate needs for Duke in the class of 2020 include snagging at least one big and either a combo or point guard. Duke still has offers out for combo guards: Boogie Ellis who is thought to be either a UNC or USC lean, Cole Anthony who has seemed to be possibly favoring UNC and Joe Girard. Duke also has offers out to a trio of bigs that include top 10 Center / Power Forward Isaiah Stewart out of Indiana, C/PF Vernon Carey out of Florida and Power Forward Matthew Hurt out of Minnesota.
Obviously recruiting is fluid and changing on a day to day basis and should Duke not sign a few of these targets I could definitely see more offers going out. Duke is expected to lose at very least Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett, Cam Reddish to the NBA draft as early entrants and senior reserve big man Antonio Vrankovic.
