Just six days after receiving a commitment from five-star point guard Derryck Thornton, the Duke Blue Devils got a pledge from another top-ranked recruit on Monday night when 6-8 swingman Brandon Ingram announced during a press conference that he’d also be taking his talents to Durham in the fall. He also considered UNC and Kansas.
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When the time came for Kinston High School basketball star Brandon Ingram to announce his college decision in a crowded gym Monday evening, he wasted little time.
“It’s been a long process,” Ingram said after stepping to the podium. “I thank my teammates for coming out here and supporting me. Next fall I will be attending Duke University.”
Suddenly a dark blue Duke hat appeared, the gym erupted and cameras snapped.
Former Kinston star and UNC player Reggie Bullock was taking in the scene from 11 rows up, smiling, shaking his head and looking at his phone. Scattered in the bleachers around him, there was a conspicuous amount of excited fans in dark blue.
North Carolina and Kansas had been in the hunt for Ingram until the end. But a few weeks removed from winning their fifth NCAA title, the Blue Devils’ hot streak continued.
“Just thinking about how long this process was, I just knew I just wanted to get it over with, I had my heart set on it, I just wanted to let it out,” Ingram said later.
Among prospects in the state, Ingram was this year’s top prize. A 6-foot-8 wing, he helped lead Kinston High School to four straight state titles. Already a highly touted recruit, his stock soared after scoring 15 points and grabbing five rebounds in the McDonald’s All-America game and scoring 12 points at the Nike Hoop Summit. ESPN has him ranked third in the class of 2015 while Rivals has him slotted fourth.
He joins an already strong Duke recruiting class that features forward Chase Jeter, center Antonio Vrankovic and guards Luke Kennard and Derryck Thornton.
