Five-Star Duke Basketball Recruiting Target Announces Transfer

After spending only one season at Overtime Elite (Ga.), long-time Duke basketball recruiting prospect Naas Cunningham told national recruiting insider Samad Hines on Monday afternoon that he is transferring to Southern California Academy for his senior year of high school.

Cunningham, a New Jersey native who began his prep career at Gill St. Bernard's School (N.J.), is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound small forward. Hines referred to him in his tweet as "one of the more interesting long-term prospects in the country."

While the long-limbed Cunningham still has a five-star rating by his name, it's worth pointing out that he once reached No. 1 on the 247Sports 2024 Composite but has fallen to No. 18 overall during his time at Overtime Elite.

So the transfer sure makes sense in that respect. And judging by the following tweet, his new head coach is thrilled to have him:

Let’s welcome 2024 Naas Cunningham 6’7+ Wing to Southern California Academy. Cunningham is one of the top prospects in the nation. Elite measurements & athleticism with real ball skills. Can create his own shot off the bounce & score at 3 levels. @NaasCunningham #RamThrough 🐏🤞🏽 pic.twitter.com/CzKRJmwX2c
— Julius V. (@JuliusVElite0) June 19, 2023

In early February, Naas Cunningham named a final five in his recruitment: Duke, Kansas, Memphis, Rutgers, and UCLA. He hasn't shortened or tweaked that list since.

However, there hasn't been much recent chatter about the Blue Devils' involvement in the race.

At one time, though, Cunningham and prime 2024 Duke basketball recruiting target Dylan Harper, who boasts a No. 2 composite ranking and is also from New Jersey, mentioned in interviews the possibility of teaming up together on the college level.

Meanwhile, both of the Blue Devils' 2024 commits thus far are, like Naas Cunningham, small forwards. They are four-star Darren Harris and five-star Isaiah Evans.

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