Five-Star Guard Confesses to Duke Basketball Fandom as a Kid

At this time last year, the Duke basketball staff had long since already handed out three 2025 offers, albeit one of those early targets, Cooper Flagg, has since reclassified and is now the No. 1 recruit and top-priority target for the Blue Devils in the 2024 class.

On the 2026 trail, though, Duke's activity has been considerably quieter in the offer department. The number of reported official Blue Devil targets among high school sophomores remains zero.

However, reports of interest have picked up of late. And as is the case seemingly every cycle for the Blue Devils, there are sure to be a few heralded prospects who admit to growing up as Duke basketball fans, perhaps giving Jon Scheyer and his staff a headstart in a race or two should they decide to enter them.

One such candidate is Lone Star (Texas) combo guard Trent Perry, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound athletic five-star who ranks No. 13 overall and No. 1 in his state on the 2026 ESPN 25.

This week, toward the end of breaking down his sure-to-soon-explode recruitment to On3's Jamie Shaw, Perry pointed out that he was a follower of the Duke basketball program — and, in a way, the archrival Tar Heels.

"I have an offer from TCU and Texas A&M so far," he explained to Shaw. "I'll go visit TCU this weekend and to A&M in September...We've heard from schools like Michigan State and Michigan a little bit. I used to like Duke when I was a kid, and UNC too. I liked UNC because of the shoes."

2026 Trent Perry really moved the needle for himself and was considered one of those breakout players that athletes can make themselves during a camp setting. He will most likely be a combo guard at the next level. There was barely anything Perry was not doing at camp. pic.twitter.com/xawAkvIwdW
— 🚀13TH ANNUAL CP3 RISING STARS NATIONAL CAMP🚀 (@CP3RisingStars) July 12, 2023

He didn't specify whether he had heard from the Blue Devils or Tar Heels. But judging by his admitted fandom, must-see highlights, and impressive freshman-year averages (14.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals), one would think Trent Perry will pop up on the radars of both Tobacco Road recruiting powerhouses before too long.

"I'm looking for a school that has an interest in me," Perry added during his chat with Shaw. "They know how I play and have a role set out for me. I'll look at their academics, too. I want to play for a team that plays fast and plays defense. Get the rebound and go, play quick, don't slow things down too much."

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