Duke Makes Move for No. 1 Center in Class of 2027
Duke Makes Move for No. 1 Center in Class of 2027 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
As summer moves along, we're inching closer to the start of the 2025-26 college basketball season. Recruiting never stops as coaches begin connecting with players from the class of 2026 while getting a feel for the class of 2027 and identifying long-term targets to build their rosters around.
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College basketball is constantly evolving, but landing elite recruits remains crucial to building a successful program. That's exactly what Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils are aiming to do as they continue reloading after recent roster changes.
On Monday, one of the top prospects in the 2027 class made headlines.
"Duke has reached out to 2027 5 Obinna Ekezie Jr. (@ObinnaEkezieJr). He is the #1-ranked center in his class! Per @recruitszone.
Ekezie Jr., a 7-foot center and five-star prospect, plays for Prolific Prep in Napa, California, one of the top high school basketball programs in the nation.
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A year ago, Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars were among the first to offer him a scholarship. At that time, both Cal and Stanford had already extended offers to the talented big man.
Since then, he's picked up offers from Maryland, BYU, Miami, Virginia and Cincinnati, adding to an already impressive recruiting profile that's drawing national attention.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer makes move for no. 1 center in class of 2027.Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Ekezie Jr.'s father, Obinna Ekezie, played college basketball at the University of Maryland and was selected 37th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft before playing internationally.
Recently, Ekezie Jr. participated in the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Playing for Team Jones, he averaged 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game over three contests, showcasing his defensive instincts and raw potential.
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With Jon Scheyer continuing to make big moves on the recruiting trail, Duke is clearly targeting elite size and skill early in the 2027 cycle, hoping to stay ahead in the ever-competitive ACC landscape.
Related: Cooper Flagg Sends Message to Kon Knueppel Before NBA Draft
Related: Cayden, Cameron Boozer Join Exclusive Duke Club Before Freshman Season
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
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