Let's start this week with the official jersey numbers for Duke's incoming freshmen. After giving the public a sneak peek on social media a few weeks ago, the members of the Blue Devils' top-ranked recruiting class are now certain of the numbers they will wear during Duke's journey to repeat as national champions.
As for recruiting, the Blue Devils' focus is now squarely on 2016. Earlier this week, five-star small forward Jayson Tatum made waves around the recruiting world when he announced that he has trimmed his list down to two schools.
The St. Louis native is the top-ranked prospect in the 2016 ESPN 60 and is one of Duke's top targets in the Class of 2016. Although Tatum did not announce the schools he is still considering, many believe that the Blue Devils are at the top of the small forward's list. Kentucky, hometown school St. Louis and North Carolina were the three other schools in Tatum's final four before he cut that list in half.
With the 6-foot-8 forward's talent on the court frequently noted by scouts and recruiting officials, Tatum showcased another side of himself Saturday when he headed to the court to support the Fighting for CJ Foundation—a non-profit assisting kids in the St. Louis area with cerebral palsy.
Blue Devil targets Harry Giles and Dennis Smith Jr. were in action this past weekend at the Josh Level Classic—a tournament featuring North Carolina's best high school talent in memory of the late Joshua Christian Level. Both Giles and Smith have discussed the possibility of teaming up as a package deal along with Tatum—a childhood friend of Giles' and one of his teammates at the USA U19 Basketball team training camp this summer.
Duke has remained in hot pursuit for a commitment from the trio as bringing in three of the top talents in the Class of 2016 would be similar to what the Blue Devils did a season ago with Justise Winslow, Jahlil Okafor and Tyus Jones.
Duke has continued to scour the 2016 talent pool for valuable contributors and recently offered big man Marques Bolden a scholarship. The 6-foot-10 center plays for DeSoto High School—the same program that produced current Blue Devil Matt Jones—and will take a visit to Durham in two weeks. Bolden is the second-ranked center and No. 19 prospect overall in the 2016 ESPN 60.
Looking way ahead to the Class of 2018, Duke recently offered power forward Marvin Bagley. The Phoenix native has already received offers from other top programs such as Kentucky, UCLA and Connecticut, as well as from in-state schools Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona. Bagley has North Carolina roots—his father played wide receiver at North Carolina A&T.
Last but not least, national champion point guard Tyus Jones' name resurfaced this week, but this time because of his younger brother, Tre, who made the USA U16 basketball team.
Jones is a point guard in the Class of 2018 and currently holds an offer from Texas Tech. As time progresses, look for Duke to play its sibling advantage as a way to land another Jones in Durham—similar to the way the Blue Devils recruited the Plumlee brothers.
That's all for this week's recruiting roundup. Be sure to stay with the Blue Zone for your latest Duke sports news.
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