Duke Basketball: Big Transfer Race 'Takes Turn Not Many Anticipated'
Last week, the Duke basketball program hosted Ernest Udeh Jr. for his only official visit to date as a transfer target. He posted pictures of himself in a Duke jersey to social media. And the Blue Devils looked to be on the verge of landing the former Kansas freshman center to fill their only remaining open scholarship for next season.
However, there's since been a shift in the tide concerning the 6-foot-11, 250-pound bruiser's recruitment.
On Monday morning, all three 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions suddenly changed from "Duke" to "Undecided."
Then on Wednesday afternoon, national insider Travis Branham appeared on an episode of 247Sports College Basketball Recruiting Weekly and suggested that while the Blue Devils might not be entirely out of the running, the leader in the Ernest Udeh Jr. sweepstakes is now a mystery.
"[Udeh] took a visit to Duke last week, and just about everybody in the industry was anticipating a commitment out of Udeh to go to Duke to fill their final roster spot," Branham noted. "He made for a perfect fit alongside a guy like Kyle Filipowski to protect the rim, rebound, and set screens.
"But over the weekend, it's starting to sound like this thing is starting to open up quite a bit. These other teams are going to get their shots, first and foremost being Kansas State, and also TCU is expected to be getting a visit. But the dates on those [visits] are still TBD. So stay tuned as this one kind of again takes a turn that not many anticipated."
Meanwhile, the 2023-24 Duke basketball roster contains an ideal mix of returning star power and incoming five-star prospects. There's so much talent that most way-too-early preseason rankings have the Blue Devils at No. 1 or 2 in the country.
RELATED: Blue Devils Fall a Spot in One Expert's Preseason Ranking
But Duke has a question mark at the center position. Some see a guard-heavy lineup with Kyle Filipowski starting at the five-spot threatening the impact of the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year on offense by requiring too much out of him on the defensive end, potentially leading to frequent foul trouble and perhaps even exhaustion.
If the Blue Devils fail to snag a formidable transfer and wish to start Filipowski at the four-spot, graduate center Ryan Young and sophomore-to-be big man Christian Reeves are possibilities to be the starting center. The same goes for incoming freshman power forward Sean Stewart.
Still, many Blue Devil fans are hoping for more of a proven rim-protector and lightfooted rim-runner in the mold of Duke's NBA-bound 7-footer, one-and-done Dereck Lively II.
For now, there have been no reports of Duke basketball interest in any remaining uncommitted names outside of Ernest Udeh Jr., a former McDonald's All-American who ranks No. 3 among available transfers and No. 1 among centers in 247Sports' eyes despite averaging only 2.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in limited minutes last season.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.
