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NCAA Basketball: Duke, Alabama, UVA and Michigan finalists for Caleb Houstan

By Tristan Freeman

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers greets head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils before the start of a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 09: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers greets head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils before the start of a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 9, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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Charles Bediako
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 02: Cheerleaders lead the Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Duke Blue Devils

Ever since Houstan reclassified, the Blue Devils have long been viewed as a favorite to land the power forward. That’s never a surprise with the program’s prestige and potential playing time availability for the following season.

The question though is where Houstan stands on Duke’s priority list. The team already has a pair of top-10 frontcourt commits in forward/center Paolo Banchero, as well as combo forward AJ Griffin. That doesn’t even include the current forwards on the roster, such as Mark Williams, Henry Coleman II, Jaemyn Brakefield, and current sophomore and former five-star prospect Matthew Hurt.

Of course, Houstan would still find his way onto the starting lineup, since Griffin can play at the wing and Banchero can be the starting center. However, there’s another power forward recruit the Blue Devils are after in Patrick Baldwin Jr., who currently is ranked No. 1 overall in the 2021 class. Duke has been after him for a while and seems to be the favorite if he doesn’t play for his father at Milwaukee.

If Baldwin picks Duke first, then look for them and Houstan to mutually part ways, giving hope for the other three teams involved. But if Baldwin goes elsewhere, then the Blue Devils could vault into the real favorite for this recruit.

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