UNC Basketball: Tar Heel recruiting target picks Blue Devils

Jan 22, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Duke Blue Devils associate head coach Jon Scheyer reacts on the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Duke won 79-64. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 22, 2019; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Duke Blue Devils associate head coach Jon Scheyer reacts on the bench against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at the Petersen Events Center. Duke won 79-64. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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A 4-star UNC basketball recruiting target has given his commitment to the Duke Blue Devils.

On Thursday morning, Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils received their first commitment since the announcement of current head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s upcoming retirement.

Kyle Filipowski, a rising 4-star prospect in the class of 2022, picked Duke over North Carolina and a host of other schools including Creighton, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA, Virginia Tech and Xavier. It came as no surprise to anyone, though, as Filipowski had been considered a strong Duke lean for quite some time. KIH highlighted Filipowski’s recruitment — and the likelihood that he’d end up in a Blue Devils uniform — when Hubert Davis and the Tar Heels extended him a scholarship offer in early July.

https://twitter.com/kylefilipowski/status/1420761459387031569

However, it was less than a week after the Tar Heels reached out to Filipowski with an offer that they received a commitment from 5-star center Jalen Washington. Washington’s commitment, in addition to the pledge they got from rising 3-star center Will Shaver the month prior, greatly decreased the Tar Heels’ need for a player like Filipowski. It also greatly reduced the probability that a fringe 5-star recruit like Filipowski would even consider a commitment to UNC.

All in all, it works out well for everyone involved. The Tar Heels got their desired big man of the future, and the Blue Devils get theirs. And the 6-foot-11-inch, 230-pound Filipowski ends up in a place that he’s likely to earn a spot in the starting lineup from day one. As for the fans, they get to look forward to a front court battle between two of the nation’s best freshmen next fall.

Next. Tar Heels' 2022 class could look like this.... dark

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