Duke Boasts Wild Recruiting Stat

Jon Scheyer and his staff are elite on the recruiting trail.
Jan 17, 2026; Stanford, California, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer reacts against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
Jan 17, 2026; Stanford, California, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer reacts against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images | Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

In this story:


Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer is not only one of the best head coaches in college basketball, but also one of the best recruiters and developers of talent. He and his staff are one of the dominant recruiting forces in the high school circuit, and that reality likely isn't changing any time soon.

Scheyer and Co. currently sit with the No. 1 overall 2026 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, headlined by three 5-star commitments. If the Blue Devils seal the nation's top-ranked recruiting class, this would be the third year in a row that Duke inks the No. 1 overall recruiting class.

1
Jan 24, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer gestures during the second half against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images | Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images

Last year, it was Cooper Flagg. This year, it's Cameron Boozer. Scheyer has time and time again taken young talent and turned them into college basketball stars from nearly day one. In 2026-27, it has the potential to be more of the same.

1
St. Mary’s forward Cameron Williams (1) dunks against Deer Valley during the 4A State Championship at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on March 6, 2025. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Two Duke Basketball Commits Named to McDonald’s All-American Game

The three 5-star recruits headed to Durham next season include Cameron Williams (No. 2 overall player according to 247Sports 2026 Composite Rankings), Deron Rippey Jr. (No. 1 point guard according to 247), and Bryson Howard (No. 12 overall player per 247).

Two of those commits, Williams and Rippey, were named to the McDonald's All-American Game. However, Howard was snubbed in surprising fashion.

Williams has risen all the way to the second overall-ranked player in the 2026 recruiting cycle and has the tools to be an extremely productive forward at the next level. The St. Mary's (AZ) product is a long way from being a complete prospect, but Scheyer is the guy to take his game to the next level.

Rippey will potentially have the keys to the offense from day one as a rookie, given that there is a great chance that both Cayden Boozer and Caleb Foster make the jump to the NBA after this season.

The New Jersey native is an explosive athlete who defends with intensity on the perimeter while having a great feel for getting his teammates the ball.

1\
Jan 6, 2026; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer reacts during the second half against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC Yum! Center. Duke defeated Louisville 84-73. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Wild Stat Shows Duke Recruiting Dominance

Duke fans have grown accustomed to seeing its next wave of players in the McDonald's All-American Game with the supposed best talent around high school basketball, but the numbers truly show how elite the Blue Devils are on the recruiting trail.

The Duke program boasts 97 McDonald's All-American selections all-time, the most of any program. Additionally, Duke has had one of its commits play in the game in 42 consecutive seasons. The program with the next-longest streak is Kansas at five.

Beyond that, Duke has had two or more McDonald's All-Americans in 16 straight years. The next program on that list is USC at 1.

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball recruiting news.

As always, make sure you stay up to date with all Duke content by following us on Facebook, by clicking HERE, and following us on X (formerly Twitter) HERE.


Published
Hugh Straine
HUGH STRAINE

Hugh Straine is an accomplished writer and proud Bucknell University alumnus, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. He has served as editor of The Bucknellian, worked as an analyst for ESPN+ and Hulu, and currently reports on college sports as a general reporter for On SI.