The competition between Duke and North Carolina doesn’t always reside on Tobacco Road. Sometimes it spills over to the highways of recruiting. The two blue blood programs are migrating south to Tampa to jump into the mix for Tampa (FL) Catholic forward Kevin Knox.

The No. 10 ranked player in the class of 2017 picked up offers from each program over the last week. The 6-foot-8 forward spoke about each of the offers after his dazzling 27 point, 12 rebound effort here at the City of Palms tournament.  

“It’s really big,” Knox said about his offer from Duke. “I felt like I earned one. Coach (Mike Krzyzewski) told me that I worked really hard for that and that’s why he offered me. They are a really good school, a Final Four, National Championship team. They are a really good school. I think I’m going to take a visit up there during the season.”

The Blue Devils are making sure Knox knows what kind of player they see him being if he were to choose the ACC school in Durham.

“Coach K told me that every time I watch them play to watch Brandon Ingram because that’s what they want me to do when I get up there. That versatility to play any position they want,” Knox said.

With North Carolina, Knox said he likes the vision the Tar Heels have for him, too.

“Coach Roy (Williams), he loves me. He really wants me. They want me to play the wing. They like to run and that’s what I like to do. They are a really good school,” Knox said. “I have family up there. I’m probably going to take a visit up there, too.”

Knox was confident that he’ll spend some time off of U.S. Route 15 501 this winter.

Another elite program may be close to offering, too, Knox said.

”(John) Calipari has called me a couple of times and my dad says there could be an offer coming soon (from the Wildcats),” Knox said.

His father, Kevin, played football at Florida State and the Seminoles are involved. So is South Carolina.