Duke basketball is just months away from tipping off its 2025-26 season.
The Blue Devils will have a new-look squad in their fourth year under Jon Scheyer. After losing all five starters from their 2025 Final Four squad to the NBA Draft, including No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, Duke returns key contributors in Caleb Foster, Maliq Brown, Darren Harris and Isaiah Evans. They’ll also reload with the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, headlined by twin brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the sons of former Duke and NBA standout Carlos Boozer. It marks the second straight year Scheyer has landed the No. 1 class.
Advertisement
Duke has yet to land a commit in its 2026 cycle, but it’s never too early to look ahead at who’s in the mix to join the Blue Devils ahead of the 2026-27 season. Here’s an update on some Duke targets in the 2026 recruiting cycle:
OPEN PRACTICE OBSERVATIONS: Isaiah Evans buzzer-beater, other Duke basketball observations from Blue Devils’ practice
THE BROTHERHOOD: Duke basketball brotherhood never dies: Dereck Lively II mentors Cooper Flagg in Dallas
Duke basketball makes top six for five-star 2026 prospect Jordan Smith Jr.
Earlier this month, 6-foot-2, 200-pound combo guard Jordan Smith Jr. revealed his top-six schools, with the Blue Devils making the list alongside Arkansas, Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana, Syracuse. The five-star has an official visit locked in with Duke on Nov. 11 and also has visits set with Arkansas (Sept. 19) and Kentucky (Oct. 10). The Fairfax, Virginia, native is currently tabbed as the top-rated prospect in Virginia and the top-rated prospect in the 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite. Nationally, he ranks No. 3.
Advertisement
Duke basketball still in the mix for Brandon McCoy
One of Duke’s top targets in its 2026 cycle, Brandon McCoy has held an offer from Duke for more than a year now. The Bellflower, California, native out of St. John Bosco High School ranks No. 4 nationally, per the 247Sports Composite and as the No. 2 combo guard and No. 3 prospect in California. McCoy holds 21 offers in total, including those from Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Rutgers. McCoy took a visit to Duke last November.
Deron Rippey Jr. scheduled to visit Duke basketball among others
Five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr. announced his top-12 schools, with Duke making the cut alongside North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Kansas and others. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard scheduled his visit with Duke on the weekend on Oct. 21. The Blairstown, New Jersey, native is the top-rated prospect in New Jersey and the No. 2 point guard in the 2026 cycle, per the 247Sports Composite. Nationally, he ranks No. 17 in the recruiting cycle.
Advertisement
Cameron Williams locks in Duke basketball visit
One of the top bigs in the 2026 cycle, 6-foot-11, 200-pound power forward Cameron Williams scheduled a visit with the Blue Devils on Oct. 3. Tabbed as the top-rated prospect in Arizona in the 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite, Williams is the No. 2 power forward in the class and ranks No. 10 nationally. Along with scheduling a visit to Duke, Williams has visits lined up with USC (Oct. 11), Arizona (Oct. 17), North Carolina (Nov. 7) and others, with a total of 13 offers.
Duke basketball offers four-star SF Maximo Adams, visit lined up
Duke officially offered four-star small forward Maximo Adams in late July, with the 6-foot-7, 205-pound prospect locking in a visit with the Blue Devils on Nov. 8. Adams is tabbed as the No. 9 prospect in California and the No. 39 small forward per the 247Sports Composite. Nationally, he ranks No. 99. Along with Duke, Adams has visits scheduled with Michigan State (Sept. 11), Kansas (Sept. 19), Texas (Sept. 27), North Carolina (Oct. 31) and others.
Advertisement
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com or follow her @annaesnydr on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball recruiting: Jordan Smith Jr., other targets for Blue Devils
