Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball: Jon Scheyer Gets Luxury Seat to Watch Top Recruits

Duke basketball was front and center for Flory Bidunga and a potential target from Australia.
Matt Giles|
Duke Basketball: Jon Scheyer Gets Luxury Seat to Watch Top Recruits
Duke Basketball: Jon Scheyer Gets Luxury Seat to Watch Top Recruits

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Duke Blue Devils

On Saturday afternoon, Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer snagged a courtside cushioned view inside the Coronado High School gym in Henderson, Nev., to watch top recruits at this weekend's inaugural Sportradar Showdown. The couch seats — a first-class touch for the event — appear reserved for head coaches on hand.

RELATED: List of Every Recruit Holding a Blue Devil Offer

And for the game that Scheyer was at, Indiana Elite versus NBA Academy, all or most of the contenders for five-star center Flory Bidunga, who ranks No. 4 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite and is nearing a decision in his recruitment, secured one of those seats.

Kansas' Bill Self and Auburn's Bruce Pearl, both in attendance near halfcourt, stand out along with Scheyer as the coaches in the best position to land Bidunga, according to 247Sports' Eric Bossi.

But some were probably also there to check out other premier talents in the contest, including NBA Academy small forward Johnny Furphy, a 6-foot-7, 180-pound Australian who has recently garnered interest from the Blue Devils.

Perhaps the gameplan was for Scheyer to make sure Bidunga saw his face often while letting Duke basketball associate head coach Chris Carrawell, settling for a front-row bleacher seat (see tweeted pic below), focus his efforts on scouting Furphy and others.

Indiana Elite came away with the 61-57 win. Bidunga, an explosive, versatile big man at 6-foot-9, 220 pounds, finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and three blocks. The Congo native shot 8-for-12 from the floor but only 1-for-5 at the charity stripe, playing all 32 minutes.

Furphy, a projected four-star recruit in the 2024 class once he decides on a college, tallied 16 points and five boards in only 19 minutes of action, shooting 6-for-9 overall, including a 4-for-6 clip from three.

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

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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