The wait for Amile Jefferson is finally over.
The nation’s No. 24 recruit according to our Consensus Recruiting Rankings committed to Duke on Tuesday afternoon, picking the Blue Devils over NC State, Kentucky, Villanova and Ohio State. Jefferson joins Rasheen Sulaimon as the only two members of Duke’s 2012 recruiting class.
“In the end, I just think Duke was the best choice for me,” he said. “Right now I don’t think they have a player at my position. I don’t think they have a guy like me.”
Jefferson’s right. They don’t.
The 6-foot-8, 190 pound Jefferson is a difficult matchup. He’s a combo-forward, but where Ryan Kelly excels at spotting up on the perimeter, Jefferson is longer and more athletic. He’s the most dangerous along the baseline and around the paint at this point in his career, but he’s got the tools to eventually become a perimeter threat as his jump shot and handle improves.
With Mason Plumlee returning in the middle, the trio of Kelly, Jefferson and Alex Murphy will give Coach K quite a bit of versatility along his front line. With Sulaimon and Seth Curry in the back court, if Quinn Cook can take over the role of point guard, the Blue Devils have an intriguing team.
With Jefferson off the board, Devonta Pollard is now the most coveted recruit remaining in the Class of 2012.
Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.