At No. 14 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, five-star Jarin Stevenson is the highest-ranked recruit in North Carolina since former Duke basketball one-and-done Harry Giles in 2016.
And Stevenson, a 6-foot-10, 200-pound power forward considering a reclassification to 2023, plays for Seaforth (N.C.) in Pittsboro, a short drive to Chapel Hill and Durham. So it makes sense that he's on the recruiting radar of the UNC basketball program and its Duke basketball counterpart.
Of the two, though, only UNC — a perceived frontrunner in the Stevenson sweepstakes — has extended an offer. Furthermore, his potential early move to the college ranks might deter the Blue Devils from entering the fray, seeing that head coach Jon Scheyer seems satisfied with his five-deep collection of 2023 five-stars.
"Right now, it is just an option," Jarin Stevenson, an explosive big man with impressive handles and speed for his size, explained to 247Sports' Travis Branham this week. "I am still seeing things out and testing what they got and seeing if it is the best option. I think the odds are between 40 and 50 percent [to reclassify]."
Nevertheless, Stevenson took an unofficial visit to Duke in late January, sitting behind the team's bench for its 68-66 win over Miami in Cameron Indoor Stadium. Now, adding to that, he told Branham that the Blue Devils remain in contact; at the time of his visit, there had been no reported interest from Scheyer and his crew.
"My top schools are UNC, Arkansas, Missouri, NC State, Virginia, Georgetown," Stevenson told Branham, "and getting some recruitment from Duke and South Carolina too...I've been talking to [Duke basketball assistant] Jai Lucas. He likes my game, and we text sometimes."
Stevenson also mentioned to Branham that his college decision could come in the summer. For now, no 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions exist in the race.
Meanwhile, six undecided juniors are on Scheyer's offer sheet. Duke's lone 2024 commit is Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris, a heralded sharpshooter who recently saw his composite ranking jump two spots to No. 51.
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