Alex O'Connell becomes the first for Duke in 2017
Milton, GA
Duke has been a significant player for some of the very best talent that the high school ranks has had to offer since Coach K began roaming the sidelines in Durham. The 2017 class has started off just the same as Alex O’Connell, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Georgia, gave his verbal commitment to the ACC blueblood.
A super bouncy and shot-making guard that never lacks for confidence, O’Connell began the spring as a regional recruit where the likes of Ole Miss and Clemson had prioritized him. As the weeks went by and more coaches were able to get a glimpse of the Milton High product, offers began to roll in by the handful as programs like Syracuse, UCLA, UConn, Xavier, Cincinnati, and Louisville jumped into the mix.
Running with the Team United 17-under program, O’Connell displayed solid scoring abilities from 20-feet and in. While he does need to better his shot selection, one has to admire the confidence with O’Connell where, if he were to miss five shots in a row, he would still believe his next 10 were due to fall. Averaging over 14 points and three rebounds per game during EYBL play, O’Connell is a deceptively explosive athlete and one of the most entertaining prospects in all of his class.
The first member of the 2017 class for Duke, the Blue Devils wrapped up the 2017 guard quickly. Where his father is a former player at the ACC program, the final class of graduating before Coach K took over, receiving an offer from the program three days ago gave way to a commitment on Friday afternoon. O’Connell gave insight on his feelings for the institution. “There was one school that stood out to me and felt the most like home to me,” he wrote on his Twitter page. “I am excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and basketball career at Duke University.”
Beating out the likes of Louisville, Syracuse, Ole Miss, and several others, Alex O’Connell is due to become an immediate fan favorite at Cameron Indoor, but for opposing fan bases, their feelings may not be the same. Regardless, the Peach State native, a top-50 recruit is in his own right, is a fine start to the class as the Blue Devils remain in the hunt for the signatures out of five-star prospects Wendell Carter, Mo Bamba, Kevin Knox, Quade Green, and Gary Trent Jr.
