Duke Basketball: Blue Devils get first 2019 commit in Wendell Moore

It took maybe longer than expected but Duke Basketball is on the board for the 2019 recruiting class with five-star prospect Wendell Moore.

When Assistant Coach Jeff Capel decided to join the Pittsburgh Panthers Basketball program this offseason, there were “small” concerns about what kind of effect it would have on recruiting for Duke.

Of course, the Blue Devils have reached a point under Mike Krzyzewski where all of the five-star prospects will have them under consideration. But more effort might have to be in place in order to get them this time around. With Josiah James going to Tennessee, Nico Mannion picking Arizona and Bryan Antoine opting for Villanova, Duke still was without a commit for the 2019 recruiting class.

While the wait was longer than expected for some Blue Devil fans, the team was finally able to land a prime-time recruit.

Wendell Moore is a five-star wing from Concord, North Carolina who chose Duke over basically all the other schools in the state, including the rival Tar Heels. At 6’5 and with an over seven-foot wingspan, Moore projects as an elite defensive prospect with great athleticism that allows him to create his own offense. He can guard multiple positions on defense and will be a great small forward for Duke, with Cameron Reddish likely gone after this season.

With the wing spot currently filled for the 2019 class, there are two more areas of potential concern for the Blue Devils. The first is the point guard position if Tre Jones decides to go pro after this upcoming season. All of the eggs are in the Cole Anthony basket but with him expecting to decide in the Spring, things could get dicey for current favorite Duke.

In terms of a great forward prospect. There are three five-stars that Duke is eying on. Vernon Carey Jr., Matthew Hurt and Isaiah Stewart have the Blue Devils on their final lists, so the odds are good that at least one of them will be coming to Durham. However, other programs are in contention for them, so Duke’s class is far from certain at this point.

Moore’s commitment is important in terms of Duke solidifying themselves in one area on the roster. It’s going to be interesting to see who joins him, as well as who doesn’t. But for now, the Blue Devils can celebrate grabbing another five-star commit, who’ll play a big role in potential future Final Four runs for the program.