Duke Basketball Standouts Overlooked in Final Five-Star Rankings!
Despite their remarkable achievements, several standout Duke basketball recruits find themselves missing out on the prestigious five-star designation in the latest rankings.
On3, a prominent recruiting site, has been less generous than its counterparts such as 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN in awarding the coveted fifth star to top-tier recruits. However, the decision to exclude highly touted Duke basketball recruit Isaiah Evans from the five-star category feels particularly unjust.
In the unveiling of the final 2024 On3 150 on Monday, Evans, along with Montverde Academy’s Cooper Flagg, a consensus five-star forward, was notably absent from the list of recognized five-stars. Despite his impressive performance at the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game and his instrumental role in leading North Meck (N.C.) to a state championship, Evans, standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 170 pounds, finds himself ranked at No. 25 overall on On3’s list, ten spots lower than his ranking on the 247Sports 2024 Composite.
Similarly, another highly anticipated Duke basketball recruit, Kon Knueppel from Wisconsin Lutheran, also missed out on the five-star designation according to On3’s rankings. Knueppel’s No. 17 On3 ranking aligns closely with his No. 16 composite position, indicating a consistent level of talent recognition across different platforms.
Additionally, Paul VI Catholic’s Patrick Ngongba II, rated as a composite five-star, was ranked as a mere On3 four-star at No. 35 overall, despite his No. 26 composite ranking. Likewise, Ngongba’s high school teammate, Darren Harris, a four-star forward, finished at No. 43 on the 2024 On3 150, just two spots below his 247Sports 2024 Composite ranking.
The oversight in recognizing these talented recruits as five-star prospects highlights the subjective nature of recruiting rankings and the variations across different evaluation platforms. Despite the disappointment, these players remain poised to make significant contributions to Duke’s basketball program under the leadership of head coach Jon Scheyer.
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