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Major Duke Basketball Recruit Narrows Focus to Five Schools
Some insiders see the VJ Edgecombe sweepstakes as a two-horse race between the Duke basketball program and fellow recruiting juggernaut Kentucky. Even so, per Rivals' Rob Cassidy, the Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) five-star guard said this week that he's still considering five colleges.
Baylor, Florida, and St. John's are the others remaining in the mix alongside the Blue Devils and Wildcats. All five have hosted Edgecombe for an official visit.
The 6-foot-5, 180-pound senior, No. 5 overall on the 247Sports 2024 Composite, has not announced an official trimming of his list of 11 favorites. Still, it sounds like the other programs once in play (Alabama, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, UConn) are now all but out of contention for his electrifying services.
However, Cassidy noted that VJ Edgecombe, the highest-ranked 2024 recruit remaining on the board, hasn't entirely ruled out his professional suitor:
"Edgecombe says he is also still considering the NBA's G League in addition to his college options, though that route is beginning to seem less likely than it once did."
He's likely to decide at some point in the next few months. Edgecombe told the media this week that he's now "leaning one way" in his recruitment; that said, he did not hint as to which way he may be leaning.
RELATED: Blue Devil Signee's Mom Helps Recruit Five-Star 2024 Guard
Meanwhile, with five heralded signees already in tow, Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his cohorts enjoy the nation's top-ranked 2024 collection. Those prizes are five-star forward Cooper Flagg, five-star forward Isaiah Evans, five-star forward Kon Knueppel, five-star center Patrick Ngongba II, and four-star forward Darren Harris.
Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball recruiting news.