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Duke Recruiting: The Next Wave Of Targets

Here are some names to keep in mind

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: JAN 19 Spalding Hoophall Classic
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 19: Montverde Academy Eagles guard Dariq Whitehead (0) drives to the basket during the second half of the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between the Montverde Academy Eagles and IMG Academy Ascen
Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

As basketball fans know, recruiting never ends and new talents are always just over the horizon.

As David Thompson of the Fayetteville paper points out here, Duke has had a Top Five class for the last eight years. And next year?

Well, here are some names to watch:

  • Dariq Whitehead: a 6-6 forward currently at Monterde, he is on record as an admirer of Coach K and will be visiting Durham early in June.
  • Jalen Duren: a 6-10/230 lb. forward also at Monteverde and currently seen as the #1 center in the class of 2022. Drawing big interest of course from ACC rival Miami, among others.
  • Mark Mitchell: a 6-8 forward from Kansas, he’ll be in town on June 28th for a visit. Obviously Kansas can be expected to be a major player and he’ll be a Big 12 target generally.
  • Dereck Lively II: a 7-1 big man, he plays at the same school Cam Reddish did, Westtown School in Pennsylvania.
  • Jazion Gortman: a slim 6-1 point guard, Wake Forest is also keen on him as is Florida State.
  • Nick Smith: a 6-5 shooting guard from Arkansas, it may be tough to get him away from the Razorbacks, but as his profile as risen he’s looking at more schools.