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Brandon Ingram Headed To Duke, Giving Blue Devils Top Recruiting Class

By Cody Daniel

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The rich got richer Monday evening as the nation’s No. 3 overall recruit and top ranked small forward in 2015, Brandon Ingram, announced he would play college basketball for the legendary Mike Krzyzewski at Duke.

Photo Credit: 247 Sports
Photo Credit: 247 Sports /

Ingram, a lanky 6’8” small forward out of Kinston, N.C., chose the Blue Devils over North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA and NC State. The biggest victory for Duke in landing Ingram might not have been simply getting him to Durham, but keeping him out of the grasp of their in-conference and in-state rival North Carolina.

Prior to his commitment last night, Ingram was the highest ranked uncommitted recruit left on the board and his decision to head to Duke now gives Coach K and his staff the No. 1 overall recruiting class for the second-straight year, per 247 Sports.

Along with Ingram, Duke’s current recruiting class includes five-star center Chase Jeter (No. 11), five-star point guard Derryck Thorton (No. 17) and four-star shooting guard Luke Kennard (No. 24).

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As you could expect, even with this yet another top recruiting class, it’s going to be a tall task to replace the likes of Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow, Tyus Jones and Quinn Cook. Jeter is a nice addition, but he’s certainly not the superstar-caliber talent in the paint Okafor was.

Thorton is an extremely skilled floor general, but it whether or not he can develop into the leader Jones was up to and throughout Duke’s national championship run remains to be seen.

Kennard is a versatile scoring guard with sneaky athleticism, but with Grayson Allen coming back after a sensational performance in Duke’s championship win over Wisconsin and Matt Jones headed back for his junior season, his role will likely be that of an option off the bench.

Jeter, Thorton and Kennard were all tremendous additions to what will be a reload in Durham next season, but the prized possession of this class is unquestionably Ingram.

ESPN Insider provided some insight as to what skills Ingram will bring with him to Duke:

"Ingram is an extra long wing with a sweet stroke and deep range. He knocks down open threes on the break, spacing to the open area on the side of dribble penetration and springs off screens. He has a quick trigger and shoots over smaller defenders with ease. He is an excellent passer as he uses his length to see over the defense where he delivers the ball right on target. Ingram is a good straight line driver with a one or two dribble attack, elevate and finish."

As I mentioned, Duke is fresh off of a national championship victory in which freshmen scored 60 of Duke’s 68 points. With Kentucky losing their entire starting lineup, as well as key pieces being lost from title contenders around the country, there’s no reason to doubt Duke’s second top-ranked recruiting class in as many years will make them the favorite for their second national championship in as many years.

Next: Louisville Reloads With Graduate Transfers

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