Incoming Duke Basketball Guard Makes Another Statement on Big Stage

Just a day after dropping a game-high 36 points to lead his No. 2 seed Paul VI Catholic (Va.) team over No. 7 seed IMG Academy (Fla.) in the opening round of the Chipotle Nationals, Duke basketball signee Darren Harris delivered another standout performance in yet another victory.

The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Harris produced another game-high scoring outing on Friday. He finished with 20 points as his team took down the reigning Chipotle Nationals champions, defeating No. 6 seed Link Academy (Mo.), 58-44, to advance to Saturday's title bout.

In addition to his game-high point tally, he added four rebounds and two assists while finishing a nearly perfect 7-for-8 at the charity stripe.

Harris is a four-star prospect who ranks No. 54 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite. But his recent efforts on the national stage should bump his ranking up in the coming weeks.

4⭐️ Darren Harris poured in 2️⃣0️⃣ points to help @PVIHoops defeat Link in the #ChipotleNationals semifinal 58-44 🔥 pic.twitter.com/m4TLR7e5D6
— League Ready (@LeagueRDY) April 5, 2024

The sharpshooter is one of just two incoming freshmen who currently hold a four-star rating in the eyes of 247Sports, but Harris’ scoring ability could carve himself a role to contribute right out of the gate next season.

Alongside Harris, fellow Paul VI Catholic senior and Duke basketball signee Patrick Ngongba II made just his second appearance on the court since his foot surgery back in November. After producing six points and five rebounds yesterday in just nine minutes of play, the 6-foot-11, 235-pound Ngongba was able to play 17 minutes, grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out an assist.

At noon ET Saturday (ESPN2), Harris, Ngongba, and the rest of the Panthers will look to become Chipotle Nationals champs when they face the winner of Friday night’s semifinal matchup between No. 1 seed Montverde Academy (Fla.) and No. 5 seed Columbus (Fla.).

That contest will feature another 2024 Duke basketball signee in Cooper Flagg, who checks in at No. 1 on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, as he looks to lead Montverde over Columbus and the twin sons of former Blue Devil Carlos Boozer.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI for more Duke basketball news.