Alabama Coach Makes Move for Duke Basketball Recruiting Target

Earlier this month, Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and two assistants became the first to visit St. Thomas More School (Conn.) small forward Tyler Betsey in his home. Although some consider the Blue Devils the favorite to land the 6-foot-8, 185-pound junior, a few other suitors appear to have considerable steam in the race.

One is reigning national champion UConn.

After all, Betsey, a sharpshooting athletic wing and four-star prospect who ranks No. 44 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, is a Connecticut native and attends school in the state. Plus, he's already been on an unofficial visit with the Huskies.

Another emerging contender worth eyeing is Alabama.

On Wednesday, Cerebro Sports' Andrew Slater reported that Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats traveled to Connecticut and completed an in-home visit with Betsey. It's worth noting Oats has compiled a top 20 class in all four years at Alabama while routinely loading up on guys whose rankings fall in the same range as Betsey's.

While Betsey has expressed patience in his recruitment and hasn't named finalists, he recently informed 247Sports' Dushawn London of the top factor in his eventual decision.

"The biggest thing for me is to have the opportunity to produce as a freshman," he said.

3 & D gets thrown around often. 6-8 Tyler Betsey epitomizes the archetype. High-level spot shooter and a noted team defender who is moving his feet & opening his hips on ball.

No. 13 in the 2024 On3 150 @TylerBetsey1 @NYRhoops

>> https://t.co/aAzofJ1sqf pic.twitter.com/XrbnrOSMUK
— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) April 18, 2023

Playing for the NY Rens on the Nike EYBL circuit, Tyler Betsey is a teammate to another prime 2024 Duke basketball recruiting target in Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) combo guard Dylan Harper, a five-star boasting a No. 4 composite ranking. And they are friends. So a package deal is not out of the question.

Meanwhile, Scheyer's only pledge from the class is Paul VI Catholic (Va.) four-star small forward Darren Harris (No. 50 composite ranking). But there's no cause for concern, considering it's still relatively early in the cycle and the expectation that Duke may need only a few 2024 recruits.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for more Duke basketball recruiting updates.