2023 5-star guard Jadyn Donovan commits to Duke women's basketball

Just like that, head coach Kara Lawson and the Blue Devils have made another big-time recruiting move.

Jadyn Donovan, a five-star guard out of Washington, D.C., announced her commitment to Duke Monday evening. As the No. 3 recruit in the 2023 class, the 6-foot Donovan becomes the highest-ranked recruit of the Lawson era in Durham and kick-starts the Blue Devils' next recruiting cycle.

Donovan, often praised for her athleticism and driving ability, announced her decision Monday at her very own Sidwell Friends School, selecting to join the Blue Devils over a group of schools including Notre Dame, Donovan's second choice. 

Since joining Duke as head coach in July 2020, Lawson has repeatedly elevated the program's roster construction through both recruitment and the transfer portal. Donovan's commitment, however, marks a new high for this era at Duke and represents a strong Blue Devil start to the 2023 recruitment cycle.

"I want to pursue a degree in communication and journalism, and coach Lawson has a lot of experience and background in that," Donovan told ESPN after her commitment Monday. "I also want to continue to be involved in USA Basketball, and she has ties into that as well."