After recently missing on five-star 2013 power forward Austin Nichols, the Duke basketball coaching staff appears to be reaching out to new big-men prospects in the class of 2014.
Last week, Justin Byerly—Director of Recruiting for basketballelite.com—tweeted, "Duke University is the latest school to contact Isaac Copeland, a 6'9 2014 out of Miller School (VA)."
Copeland is the No. 12 overall power forward in the class of 2014, according to ESPN.com. The wiry 6-foot-8 forward currently holds scholarship offers from N.C. State, Georgetown, Virginia and Virginia Tech, among others, per his ESPN profile.
Also last week, Eric Bossi—the lead college basketball recruiting analyst for rivals.com—tweeted, "Duke is the latest school to inquire about 2014 four-star forward Abdul Malik Abu per his summer coach Ty Boswell."
At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, Abu is a physical specimen that has drawn comparisons to Emeka Okafor. Ranked as the No. 8 overall power forward in the class of 2014 by ESPN.com, the Boston product has a bevy of scholarship offers. Notably, Michigan State, Maryland and Connecticut, along with a host of other schools, have offered him a scholarship.
Right now, Duke has scholarship offers out to five 2014 players—Tyus Jones, Jahlil Okafor, Theo Pinson, Justise Winslow and Trey Lyles.
Grayson Allen—a 6-foot-4 shooting guard in the class of 2014—was on Duke's campus this weekend for an unofficial visit, per Evan Daniels of scout.com.
Class of 2013 Blue Devil commit Semi Ojeleye was also in Durham over the weekend for his official visit. The physical 6-foot-6 wing from Ottawa, Kan. is expected to sign his letter of intent this week during the early signing period.
Ojeleye is the No. 10 ranked small forward in the class of 2013, according to ESPN.com.
Ojeleye's future teammate, Matt Jones, will also sign his letter of intent this week. A 6-foot-4 shooting guard, the Texas native is the No. 8 shooting guard in the class of 2013, per ESPN.com.
In other news: Indiana is hot on the recruiting trail. After recently scoring a commitment from 2013 wing Troy Williams, one of the most athletic wings in the class, the Hoosiers added another prized recruit over the weekend when Noah Vonleh—the No. 8 overall player in the class of 2013, according to ESPN.com—gave his pledge to head coach Tom Crean Saturday while he was on campus for an official visit.
Needless to say, things are good in Bloomington. This year's team is currently ranked No. 1 in the AP poll and now Crean has a top-five 2013 recruiting in the fold for next year.
The Hoosiers' gain was North Carolina's loss. Many felt, at one point, that the Tar Heels were a contender to land Vonleh after they were cut by five-star 2013 power forward Julius Randle.
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