NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Duke on path to another top-5 class in 2020

A lot of NCAA Basketball D-I programs have yet to wrap its 2019 recruiting class, while the Duke Blue Devils are well on its way to another top-5 class in 2020.

Consensus five-star Jalen Johnson became the highest ranked player in the class of 2020 to come off the board when he verbally committed to the Duke Blue Devils on July 4. The 6-8, 215-pound wing is ranked as the fourth-best NCAA Basketball prospect and top small forward in the class by 247Sports Composite, ESPN, and Rivals. He is considered to be the seventh-best prospect overall and the No. 3 small forward by 247Sports.

Johnson told Evan Daniels of 247Sports that he picked Duke over  Arizona, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.

"“I picked them because how much of a priority I was for them and the potential they see in me. It was just a different vibe that I got with them, and it was just great since my first conversation with them.”"

Johnson is a long and strong, versatile forward who can score inside and out. The Glendale, Wisconsin, native can get out in transition and fill the lanes, rebound from the wing, slash into the paint, and finish above the rim.  He is an excellent 3-point shooter off the catch and can create plays for others.

Johnson averaged a double-double last year as a junior at Nicolet High School, producing 19.9 points along with 11.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 2.4 steals.

Johnson joins Jeremy Roach (Fairfax, VA) in the Blue Devils 2020 recruiting class. Roach is a consensus five-star prospect and is ranked among the top-21 players in the class by each of the major recruiting services.

Duke is projected to have at least two more scholarships available next season. The Blue Devils currently have open offers to Cade Cunningham, Brandon B.J. Boston, Scottie Barnes, Walker Kessler, and Mark Williams. They are in a good position for each of the five players, although they are one of the favorites for Kessler.

Duke currently ranks No. 1 in 247Sports’ 2020 team rankings edging out Gonzaga, who has a couple of top-55 commitments from Julian Strawther (Henderson, NV) and Dominick Harris (Temecula, CA). The Blue Devils are also No. 1 in both Rival’s and Scout’s rankings as well.

Baylor, Xavier, Purdue, Virginia, Utah, Houston, Nebraska, and Butler are among the other teams with two commits in 2020. Wisconsin leads the way with three commits.

Duke has finished in the top-5  of 247Sport’s class rankings since 2014. The Blue Devils’ 2019 class is currently ranked fourth nationally.

Florida’s Isaiah Stokes enters NCAA transfer portal

Isaiah Stokes has decided to leave the Florida Gator basketball program. Stokes entered the NCAA transfer portal on July 3, which is one week after grad transfer Kerry Blackshear Jr. chose to play for the Gators.

The 6-8, 270 bruising forward came to Gainesville as a consensus four-star recruit. He was rated as the No. 123 player in the class of 2017 by 247Sports Composite while ESPN had him rated as the 62nd best recruit.

Stokes sat out the entire 2017-18 campaign to rehab a torn ACL that he suffered during his final high school season. The Memphis (Tenn.) product averaged 2.1 points and 1.0 rebounds in 26 appearances while seeing just 7.1 minutes of action per game.

The redshirt sophomore, who is the younger brother of former Tennessee Vol Jarnell Stokes, is the sixth Gator to transfer in the last six months. Chase Johnson (Dayton), Keith Stone (Miami), Deaundrae Ballard (South Alabama) and Mike Okauru (UNC Wilmington) are the others that have exited.

Other recruiting tidbits:

• Clemson offered 2021 wings Quincy Allen and Benjamin Williams scholarships. Allen is a consensus top-35 player in his class with 247Sports Composite giving him five-stars and ranking him as the 24th best prospect overall. He is rated as a four-star prospect by the other three major recruiting services. 247Sports has him rated as the 24th best prospect while ESPN has him tabbed at 34th and Rivals has him at No.23. The Tigers offer is the second that the Washington (D.C.) native has received over the past few days as Rutgers made an overture on July 3. Allen currently holds 13 offers overall.
• Meanwhile, Williams has eight offers with Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Florida and Syracuse being among others that are interested in the Bowie (MD) native.
• Pitt offered 2022 point guard Jaden Bradley a scholarship on July 4. Bradley is rated as a five-star prospect and No. 8 in his class by ESPN.  Pitt’s offer is the Concord (N.C.) third overture that he has received this month and 11th overall. Clemson and Florida State offered him on July 1.
• Alec Lasley of Hoosier State of Mind believes that the Indiana Hoosiers could secure a commitment from four-star 2020 prospect Matt Cross (Beverly, MA) by the end of Summer. Cross has taken four official visits up to this point to Indiana, Butler, Miami (FL), and South Carolina.

• Iowa State offered four-star 2021 Bryce McGowens on July 4. McGowens now holds 17 offers with 13 being from high major programs.
• 2019 NBA Academy Latin America SG Jermaine Miranda committed and signed with Hofstra on July 5.
• Kasen Jennings committed to Kennesaw State on July 5.
• Elon, Akron,  Bradley, and Robert Morris have offered 2020 forward Michael Graham (Brooklyn, NY) recently.