Duke May Seal Deal With VJ Edgecombe Early Next Week

Originally posted on Duke Blue Devils on SI
By Matt Giles | Last updated Jan 9, 2024 2:55 PM ET

Last week, Burner Ball college hoops expert "Trilly Donovan" reported that Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) senior guard VJ Edgecombe is "likely to announce" his decision during the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., Jan. 11-15. Given the Duke basketball coaches' widely perceived lead in the race, it's no surprise they'll be on hand.

According to a post from national recruiting insider Adam Zagoria on Tuesday, the Blue Devils will be there at 4 p.m. ET Monday to watch Edgecombe, No. 5 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, lead his team against twin five-star 2025 Duke targets in Columbus High School (Fla.) forward Cameron Boozer and guard Cayden Boozer.

The 6-foot-5, 180-pound Edgecombe, an electrifying five-star who visited Durham the same weekend as Countdown to Craziness in October, included the Blue Devils among his three finalists on Dec. 27, along with Kentucky and Baylor.

As things stand, the three entered 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions and one Rivals FutureCast pick for the VJ Edgecombe sweepstakes all foresee second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff coming out on top.

His addition to what is already a five-deep collection of 2024 Blue Devil signees, each among the top 60 in the rankings, would all but guarantee Scheyer his second No. 1 haul and third in the top two across his three cycles calling all the shots.

Edgecombe would become Duke's second top-five prize in the class, joining the top-ranked prep in Montverde Academy (Fla.) five-star forward Cooper Flagg.

This article first appeared on Duke Blue Devils on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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