In a surprising twist that has sent ripples through the college basketball community, the Duke Blue Devils were dealt a major blow this week as 5-star recruit Jaylen Thompson has officially reversed his commitment to the program.
Thompson, a versatile forward widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 2025 class, had previously pledged his allegiance to Duke last fall. However, in a statement released late Tuesday evening, Thompson announced his decision to reopen his recruitment, citing a “need to re-evaluate the best path forward both athletically and academically.”
The sudden change leaves Duke scrambling to fill a major void in their incoming class. Thompson was expected to be a cornerstone of head coach Jon Scheyer’s rebuilding efforts, especially following the departure of several upperclassmen to the NBA Draft.
“I have great respect for Duke and the coaching staff,” Thompson said. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right one for my future.”
Sources close to the situation suggest that increased interest from programs like Kentucky and Kansas may have influenced the reversal. While Duke still retains a strong recruiting class, losing a player of Thompson’s caliber is undeniably a setback for the Blue Devils’ 2025 campaign.
Fans and analysts alike will now watch closely to see where Thompson ultimately lands—and how Duke plans to recover from this unexpected shake-up.
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