Duke takes official visit to Friars Providence native back from Cushing Academy
PROVIDENCE – The David Duke recruiting caravan revved up shortly after 1 p.m. on Friday when the Providence native departed the Cushing Academy grounds.
Duke’s destination was to one of the two colleges biding to land the services of the 6-4 point guard who’s rated one of the top 50 prospects in the Class of 2018. There was no need to turn on the GPS, as he’s set foot on Providence College’s campus plenty of times in advance of this weekend’s official visit with head coach Ed Cooley and the rest of the basketball Friars.
Basically, Duke is coming home for the next few days. Whether he elects to make the Big East school that’s located in his hometown his college address is one he’ll ponder with his inner circle once his 48-hour stay at PC wraps up on Sunday.
In terms of placing a timeframe on Duke picking between Providence and Virginia Tech, Cushing head coach James Cormier ventured a guess on Friday that official word could come down within two weeks after the Friar visit.
“He’ll sit down with his family and digest all the places he’s been and what’s been told,” Cormier said. “All of the places he’s been to are special in their own way. It’s a bit overwhelming, but he wants to be able to make the right decision.”
Originally, Duke was set up to visit Villanova this weekend. The former Classical High star and Cushing senior scrapped those plans in favor of making PC his third and, barring the unforeseen, his final official visit.
Per Cormier, Duke changed his tune about taking an official visit to Providence after spending last weekend on Virginia Tech’s campus. He sat in the Lane Stadium stands for the muchhyped college football showdown between the Hokies and defending national champion Clemson.
“That was something I had to make sure he understood. He was going to be (at Virginia Tech) for at least one of the best days of the year, maybe in the last couple,” Cormier said. “It’s ESPN’s College Gameday and the hype that comes with it.”
Before checking out the Hokies, which included a dinner at the home of head coach Buzz Williams, Duke also in September saw what Florida had to offer.
“He’s been on PC’s campus a bunch, but then he went and experienced a visit at Florida and Virginia Tech. He saw a more intimate side of the school, whether it’s the dorms or getting to know a coach in a family setting. That kind of opened his eyes and intrigued him,” Cormier said. “He wanted to give Providence a fair opportunity to showcase what they can provide him.”
The advice Cormier gave to Duke over lunch on Friday was the same message the coach gave his star pupil prior to his previous official visits. Cormier also told Duke not to be afraid to ask questions.
“I told him to go in with the approach of making sure you can enjoy and excel as a student as well. The ball is going to stop bouncing at some point. For David, it’s probably to be later than most of the kids,” Cormier said. “I think he’ll have a lucrative career in the pros, but if basketball is taken away, where are you going to be the most happy?”
Handicapping the Duke sweepstakes has been simplified after Florida earlier this week landed verbal commits from guards Noah Locke (also a PC target) and Andrew Nembhard, plus the decision not to head to Villanova. Those two programs joined Indiana as three of the five finalists that Duke tweeted out on August 14.
Now, the list has been pared down to two schools. Duke has been on the Friars’ radar long before he enrolled at Cushing prior to the 2016-17 season. The Hokies began prioritizing him last spring and made it a point to track his every move during the summer with Mass Rivals, his AAU club.
Typically, prep schools such as Cushing will hold open gym in the fall so that college coaches can come check out prospects in their school environ- ment. Since school started, the Friars and Hokies have sent their full complement of coaches to the Ashburnham, Mass. campus.
“Both staffs have definitely shown their commitment and dedication to David,” Cormier said.
Last Monday, Duke sat in Cormier’s office along with PC’s Cooley and assistant coach Brian Blaney. One of the points that was stressed was loyalty, a trait that Cormier believes that Duke has in droves.
“They didn’t want to be out of sight, out of mind. They wanted to make sure they were present,” Cormier said about the Friar coaches. “They did a good job talking about how he’s been their guy since Day 1 when no one else was calling him. They were the school that was always around. They made a lot of good points when they came to meet him.”
Asked how often the Friars have played up the hometown angle with Duke, Cormier said, “That’s definitely hitting home with David to an extent, but David doesn’t want to get caught up in it. He wants to make the best decision for him and his family. If he feels that Providence is going to develop him and make him the best player and person possible, that’s where he’ll go. If he feels Virginia Tech is going to provide a better opportunity, that’s where he’ll go.
“It’s hard, but David has done a good job,” Cormier added. “There’s a part of David that’s probably going to want to pull him home, but he’s done a good job from separating that angle from his decision.”
Duke will celebrate his 18th birthday Friday. The next day, PC will hold its annual Late-Night Madness festivities. Cormier is unsure whether Duke will make it back-to-back weekends in his native Providence.
Follow Brendan McGair on Twitter @BWMcGair03