Duke basketball recruiting roundup: 2012-2014 classes
By Taylor Ostrick — Duke as always is in the midst of recruiting many different players from various classes. Coach K and the rest of the staff have been hard at work, attempting to get some of the top players in the country to come to Durham and play for the Blue Devils. With all the rumors that go around, following recruting can sometimes be confusing for a fan so here is a basic rundown of the players that Duke is actively recruiting in the 2012-2014 classes.
Class of 2012: Commitments (1)- Rasheed Sulaimon #11.
Offers (3)- Shabazz Muhammad #1, Amile Jefferson #21, Tony Parker #19
Rasheed Sulaimon(Committed): 6’4″ guard, Houston, Texas- Sulaimon officially signed with Duke during the early signing period and is the #2 guard in the class. The 6’4 guard is a force on both sides of the ball. He is not only one of the best pure scorers in the class but a great defender and a high character guy. (There is a reason he gets many comparisons to Nolan Smith) In other words, he is the exact type of guard that Coach K has made a habit of winning with year after year. Sulaimon is currently in the middle of his senior basketball season at Strake Jesuit High School, averaging 27.8 points per game. His team is 22-3, and he recently recorded his second straight 40+ point game. Sulaimon was recently selected to participate in the annual Jordan Brand Classic game and the McDonald’s All-American game, both of which feature some of most talented and highly ranked high school players in the country.
Shabazz Muhammad(Offered): 6’5″ small foward, Las Vegas, Nevada- Everyone knows Muhammad, the highly touted #1 player in the class who is considering Duke, Kentucky, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Texas A&M and Kansas. It has been well documented through comments from he and his father that Muhammad is not expected to make a decision until the spring signing period. Although he still pretty long list, many believe Kentucky, Duke and UCLA are in the lead for Muhammad. He has an excellent relationship with Coach K and it looks as though Duke will be in this one until the end. Shabazz is known for his offensive versatility, scoring, athleticsm, intensity, tenacious demeanor on the court. This is a player who has a serious killer instinct. He brings it every night and is a ferocious competitor. Muhammad is currently averaging 29.1 points per game in his senior season at Bishop Gorman High and will play in both the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald’s All-American game. Muhammad is scheduled to take his official visit to Duke in the spring for the North Carolina game.
Amile Jefferson (Offered)- 6’8″ power foward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- Although not a true back to the basket post player, Jefferson is adept at facing the basket and scoring in the paint. He is a long, athletic player with a high motor and a great feel for the game. Perhaps his best quality is his feel for the game, as he is a smart player with a very high basketball IQ (think Shane Battier). A crucial detail to consider when looking at Jefferson’s recruitment is the importance that he puts on academics. He is currently averaging 21.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per game at Friends Central High School. Duke, who recruited Jefferson when he was a sophmore before backing off, dove back into this recruitment in a big way. The Blue Devils contacted him in early January and offered him a scholarship shortly thereafter. Jefferson, whose father recently stated his son will likely make a decision towards the middle of February (once his high school season ends), has already visited Duke more then once and is very familiar with the Blue Devils’ coaching staff and basketball program. Amile is considering NC State, Duke, Villanova, UConn and Ohio State. NC State and Duke are widely considered the leaders for Jefferson’s services. Read more
Duke Basketball Recruit Stats Tracker: Version 3.0
By Chad Lykins — The future for the Duke Blue Devils looks incredibly bright as they have picked up two commitments from two of the best scorers on the high school level in Rasheed Sulaimon (2012) and Matt Jones (2013). It won’t stop with just those two as the Blue Devils are in hot pursuit of 2012 prospects Shabazz Muhammad, Tony Parker, & Amile Jefferson and 2013 prospects Jabari Parker & Julius Randle (Editor’s Note – In this updated version, you will notice that Ricardo Gathers has been taken off of the list, as Duke has cooled on their recruitment of Gathers).
Here at Duke Hoop Blog, I will be following each of the 7 players above very closely through their junior and senior seasons. Check out their numbers listed below for game by game stats (as I have compiled) for each player:
Rasheed Sulaimon – Strake Jesuit (22-3) – 2012 Commit
Scoring Average: 27.8 ppg
11/14 vs. Jones – 92-67 W – 36 Pts.
11/18 vs. Dallas Jesuit – 72-67 W – 20 Pts.
11/22 vs. Wheatley – 87-75 W – 29 Pts.
11/26 vs. Lamar Consolidated – 64-43 W – 26 Pts.
11/29 vs. St. Thomas – 61-49 W – 20 Pts.
12/1 vs. Oakland Tech – 80-42 W – 28 Pts.
12/2 vs. Sheldon – 87-73 W – 26 Pts.
12/3 vs. Jesuit – 55-68 L – 21 Pts.
12/6 vs. Cypress Lakes – 66-67 L – 35 Pts.
12/12 vs. Chavez – 73-47 W – 32 Pts.
12/17 vs. Seven Lakes – 83-62 W – 32 Pts.
12/20 vs. Langham Creek – 74-73 W – 30 Pts.
12/28 vs. Garner – 63-76 L – 13 Pts.
12/29 vs. Wheeler – 70-63 W – 29 Pts.
12/30 vs. Middle Creek – 54-39 W – 21 Pts.
1/3 vs. Cinco Ranch – 52-41 W – 22 Pts.
1/6 vs. Morton Ranch – 59-52 W – 25 Pts.
1/10 vs. Mayde Creek – 83-57 W – 24 Pts.
1/13 vs. Memorial – 59-48 W – 30 Pts.
1/17 vs. Taylor – 59-51 W – 34 Pts.
1/20 vs. Katy – 81-45 W – 31 Pts.
1/24 vs. Seven Lakes – 74-61 W – 30 Pts.
1/27 vs. Cinco Ranch – 73-47 W – 20 Pts.
1/31 vs. Morton Ranch – 71-62 W – 40 Pts.
2/3 vs. Mayde Creek – 83-58 W – 41 Pts.
Matt Jones – Desoto (25-5) – 2013 Commit
Scoring Average: 18.6 ppg
11/14 vs. Dunbar – 85-56 W – 15 Pts.
11/17 vs. Manvel – 52-32 W – 15 Pts.
11/17 vs. Westlake – 59-55 W – 16 Pts.
11/18 vs. Berkner – 67-64 W – 19 Pts.
11/18 vs. FB Bush – 73-63 W – 35 Pts.
11/19 vs. FM Marcus – 42-55 L – 6 Pts.
11/22 vs. Richland – 40-41 L – 14 Pts.
11/26 vs. Wheeler – 65-42 W – 29 Pts.
12/1 vs. Fort Trimble Tech – 63-43 W – 14 Pts.
12/2 vs. Arlington – 66-26 W – 16 Pts.
12/3 vs. South Grand Prairie – 68-56 W – 30 Pts.
12/3 vs. Arlington Seguin – 67-57 W – 20 Pts.
12/6 vs. Conrad – 69-58 W – 24 Pts.
12/9 vs. Duncanville – 67-50 – 28 Pts.
12/13 vs. Pinkston – 63-35 W – 18 Pts.
12/20 vs. Trinity Christian – 59-39 W – 4 Pts.
12/28 vs. Coppell – 77-39 W – 22 Pts.
12/29 vs. Plano West – 46-53 L – 4 Pts.
12/30 vs. North Crowley – 61-43 W – 17 Pts.
12/30 vs. FM Marcus – 42-58 L – 24 Pts.
12/31 vs. Ennis – 51-37 W – 16 Pts.
1/3 vs. University – 51-41 W – 21 Pts.
1/7 vs. Lovejoy – 73-37 W – 27 Pts.
1/13 vs. North Mesquite – 46-34 W – 22 Pts.
1/17 vs. Lee – 50-31 W – 21 Pts.
1/20 vs. Horn – 57-43 W – 10 Pts.
1/24 vs. Mesquite – 52-55 L – 25 Pts.
1/27 vs. Longview – 66-48 W – 20 Pts.
1/31 vs. North Mesquite – 47-36 W 12 Pts.
2/3 vs. Lee – 51-31 W – 14 Pts.
Duke Basketball Recruit Stats Tracker: Version 2.0
By Chad Lykins — The future for the Duke Blue Devils looks incredibly bright as they have picked up two commitments from two of the best scorers on the high school level in Rasheed Sulaimon (2012) and Matt Jones (2013). It won’t stop with just those two as the Blue Devils are in hot pursuit of 2012 prospects Shabazz Muhammad, Tony Parker, Ricardo Gathers & as of last week Amile Jefferson (who was extended an offer on Sunday) and 2013 prospects Jabari Parker & Julius Randle.
Here at DukeHoopBlog.com, I will be following each of the 6 players above very closely through their junior and senior seasons. Check out their numbers listed below for game by game stats (as I have researched) for each player:
Rasheed Sulaimon – Strake Jesuit (14-3) – 2012 Commit
Scoring Average: 26.2 ppg
11/14 vs. Jones – 92-67 W – 36 Pts.
11/18 vs. Dallas Jesuit – 72-67 W – 20 Pts.
11/22 vs. Wheatley – 87-75 W – 29 Pts.
11/26 vs. Lamar Consolidated – 64-43 W – 26 Pts.
11/29 vs. St. Thomas – 61-49 W – 20 Pts.
12/1 vs. Oakland Tech – 80-42 W – 28 Pts.
12/2 vs. Sheldon – 87-73 W – 26 Pts.
12/3 vs. Jesuit – 55-68 L – 21 Pts.
12/6 vs. Cypress Lakes – 66-67 L – 35 Pts.
12/12 vs. Chavez – 73-47 W – 32 Pts.
12/17 vs. Seven Lakes – 83-62 W – 32 Pts.
12/20 vs. Langham Creek – 74-73 W – 30 Pts.
12/28 vs. Garner – 63-76 L – 13 Pts.
12/29 vs. Wheeler – 70-63 W – 29 Pts.
12/30 vs. Middle Creek – 54-39 L – 21 Pts.
1/3 vs. Cinco Ranch – 52-41 W – 22 Pts.
1/6 vs. Morton Ranch – 59-52 W – 25 Pts.
Matt Jones – Desoto (19-4) – 2013 Commit
Scoring Average: 18.9 ppg
11/14 vs. Dunbar – 85-56 W – 15 Pts.
11/17 vs. Manvel – 52-32 W – 15 Pts.
11/17 vs. Westlake – 59-55 W – 16 Pts.
11/18 vs. Berkner – 67-64 W – 19 Pts.
11/18 vs. FB Bush – 73-63 W – 35 Pts.
11/19 vs. FM Marcus – 42-55 L – 6 Pts.
11/22 vs. Richland – 40-41 L – 14 Pts.
11/26 vs. Wheeler – 65-42 W – 29 Pts.
12/1 vs. Fort Trimble Tech – 63-43 W – 14 Pts.
12/2 vs. Arlington – 66-26 W – 16 Pts.
12/3 vs. South Grand Prairie – 68-56 W – 30 Pts.
12/3 vs. Arlington Seguin – 67-57 W – 20 Pts.
12/6 vs. Conrad – 69-58 W – 24 Pts.
12/9 vs. Duncanville – 67-50 – 28 Pts.
12/13 vs. Pinkston – 63-35 W – 18 Pts.
12/20 vs. Trinity Christian – 59-39 W – 4 Pts.
12/28 vs. Coppell – 77-39 W – 22 Pts.
12/29 vs. Plano West – 46-53 L – 4 Pts.
12/30 vs. North Crowley – 61-43 W – 17 Pts.
12/30 vs. FM Marcus – 42-58 L – 24 Pts.
12/31 vs. Ennis – 51-37 W – 16 Pts.
1/3 vs. University – 51-41 W – 21 Pts.
1/7 vs. Lovejoy – 73-37 W – 27 Pts.
Beach Ball Classic Starts Today in Myrtle Beach
While Duke recruits Rasheed Sulaimon and Theo Pinson will be playing in Raleigh this week, three other high school ballers high on Duke’s most wanted list will be down in Myrtle Beach competing in the Beach Ball Classic Tournament.
Shabazz Muhammad (2012), Julius Randle (2013), and Jahlil Okafor (2014) are all taking part in the event so if you’re in the area be sure to head over to the Myrtle Beach Convention Center to watch these guys in action.
If you’re not in the area, BeachBallClassic.com has live streams of all the games so you won’t have to miss the games if you can’t be in Myrtle.
To catch these three guys in action, be sure to go here at the following times: Read more
Duke Basketball Recruit Stats Tracker
By Chad Lykins — The future for the Duke Blue Devils looks incredibly bright as they have picked up two commitments from two of the best scorers on the high school level in Rasheed Sulaimon (2012) and Matt Jones (2013). It won’t stop with just those two as the Blue Devils are in hot pursuit of 2012 prospects Shabazz Muhammad, Tony Parker & Ricardo Gathers and 2013 prospects Jabari Parker & Julius Randle.
Here at DukeHoopBlog.com, I will be following each of the 5 players above very closely through their junior and senior seasons. Check out their numbers listed below for game by game stats (as I have researched) for each player:
Rasheed Sulaimon – Strake Jesuit (10-2) – 2012 Commit
Scoring Average: 27.9 ppg
11/14 vs. Jones – 92-67 W – 36 Pts.
11/18 vs. Dallas Jesuit – 72-67 W – 20 Pts.
11/22 vs. Wheatley – 87-75 W – 29 Pts.
11/26 vs. Lamar Consolidated – 64-43 W – 26 Pts.
11/29 vs. St. Thomas – 61-49 W – 20 Pts.
12/1 vs. Oakland Tech – 80-42 W – 28 Pts.
12/2 vs. Sheldon – 87-73 W – 26 Pts.
12/3 vs. Jesuit – 55-68 L – 21 Pts.
12/6 vs. Cypress Lakes – 66-67 L – 35 Pts.
12/12 vs. Chavez – 73-47 W – 32 Pts.
12/17 vs. Seven Lakes – 83-62 W – 32 Pts.
12/20 vs. Langham Creek – 74-73 W – 30 Pts.
Matt Jones – Desoto (14-2) – 2013 Commit
Scoring Average: 18.9 ppg
11/14 vs. Dunbar – 85-56 W – 15 Pts.
11/17 vs. Manvel – 52-32 W – 15 Pts.
11/17 vs. Westlake – 59-55 W – 16 Pts.
11/18 vs. Berkner – 67-64 W – 19 Pts.
11/18 vs. FB Bush – 73-63 W – 35 Pts.
11/19 vs. FM Marcus – 42-55 L – 6 Pts.
11/22 vs. Richland – 40-41 L – 14 Pts.
11/26 vs. Wheeler – 65-42 W – 29 Pts.
12/1 vs. Fort Trimble Tech – 63-43 W – 14 Pts.
12/2 vs. Arlington – 66-26 W – 16 Pts.
12/3 vs. South Grand Prairie – 68-56 W – 30 Pts.
12/3 vs. Arlington Seguin – 67-57 W – 20 Pts.
12/6 vs. Conrad – 69-58 W – 24 Pts.
12/9 vs. Duncanville – 67-50 – 28 Pts.
12/13 vs. Pinkston – 63-35 W – 18 Pts.
12/20 vs. Trinity Christian – 59-39 W – 4 Pts.
Jabari Parker Fall 2011 Highlights
Parker has been called the best high school basketball player regardless of class by a few analysts and scouts. The 6’8″ swingman can play inside and out at either forward spot and would be a matchup problem at either guard position. Duke is recruiting him heavily and by some reports have the inside track to gain his commitment. That means absolutely nothing at this stage of his recruitment though but he is certainly a player to keep an eye on in the junior class.
Check out these highlights from City League Hoops after the jump. Read more
2013 Standout Jabari Parker Named USA Hoops Athlete of the Year
Duke target and #1 player in the 2013 class Jabari Parker was recently named the USA Hoops Athlete of the year. Parker, who helped the U16 USA team win a gold medal this summer, is the youngest player to ever recieve such honors. “This award is really big, being the youngest to win it is special because of all the great players that have played in USA Basketball, my hard work is paying off.” Parker said.
The 6’7 junior from Chicago, Illinois led Team USA to a 5-0 record and gold medal averaging 15.4 points per game (second best on team USA) and 6.4 rebounds per game. Parker was also named MVP of the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, and poured in 27 points againts Brazil in the preliminalry round, which is a USA U16 record.
Parker is one of the most highly sought after players in the country regardless of class or position. He is set apart from other players by his combination size, skill, versatility, intelligence, athleticism and maturity. Parker currently holds an offer from Duke as well as North Carolina, Kansas, Illinois, Washington, Michigan State, Missouri, BYU, Connecticut, Ohio State and Utah. Read more
Duke Fan’s Viewing Guide: 2011-12 ESPNHS Basketball Showcase
The 2011-12 GEICO ESPNHS Basketball Showcase will feature 16 televised games plus a skills competition which will include a slam dunk and 3-point shooting contest on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN3.
Duke fans should have very heavy interest in this year’s Basketball Showcase as such targets as Shabazz Muhammad, Tony Parker, Jabari Parker, and Julius Randle will be on display.
The full schedule is posted below along with some notes on the above players including their respective high school. See just below each player’s name for their schedule during the showcase or look for their shade of Duke Blue in the main listings. The marquee matchup is no doubt Jabari Parker’s Simeon vs. Tony Parker’s Miller Grove. These two are very, very high on Duke’s priority list. Read more
Duke 2013 Recruiting: Julius Randle
Wondering about the prospects Duke is looking at in 2013? Julius Randle is one and a major one. Randle is ranked #3 in ESPNU’s Super 60 at 6’9 225. He’s a dynamic, powerful, and a relentless rim attacking power forward from Dallas, Texas. The 6’9 power forward has a variety of scoring moves, can finish through contact and likes to face up defenders and attack the basket. He owns his area rebounding wise, is a defensive presence and is one of the premiere athletes that the 2013 class has to offer.
Recently, Randle and his high school basketball team, Prestonwood Christian Academy, participated in the 3rd annual Thanksgiving Hoopfest. Prestonwood matched up against North Carolina State Wolfpack commit, Rodney Purvis, and Upper Room Christian Academy yesterday. Prestonwood went on to a victory, 81-58, as Randle scored 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Prestonwood moved to 2-0 on the season thus far this season, while Randle is averaging 21.0 ppg.
Below is video from the matchup at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest between Prestonwood and Upper Room. Read more
2013 Sharpshooter Matt Jones Commits To Duke
Hailing from DeSoto, Texas and an unbelievable long range shooter, 2013 shooting guard Matt Jones has given his verbal commitment to Duke. Matt went on an unofficial visit to Durham during the Countdown to Craziness festivities, accompanying Rasheed Sulaimon on his official visit. Just like the Duke coaching staff did with Rasheed, they made Jones a focus of the weekend and it had the same results. Check out some highlights from BallIsLife.com.
And PrepForce.com
Read more
