Duke lands 2017 shooting guard

Alex O’Connell picked up an offer from Duke on Wednesday, and as expected, it changed the course of his recruitment immediately.

Today, the 6-foot-6, 175-pound shooting guard from Milton (Ga.) High School informed the Duke coaching staff he was committing to the program. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff watched O’Connell closely overtime, and when the offer was finally extended O’Connell’s recruitment moved as quickly as you will see when it comes to a top-tier prospect.

“Duke took their time evaluating and developing a relationship with Alex O'Connell and landing him happened pretty quickly once that offer was communicated,” Devils Illustrated recruiting analyst Clint Jackson said.

O’Connell will be looked up on as one of the pieces to fill the void left by Grayson Allen and Jayson Tatum, who could leave for the NBA after the conclusion of the 2016-17 season.

While O’Connell might not be looked upon as an elite prospect on the same level as a Allen or Tatum, he’s certainly gaining some attention for his play throughout the spring and summer. Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Eric Bossi anticipates a rise in the rankings for O’Connell, who currently sits at No. 69 in the Rivals.com Top 100.

Jackson believes his all-around game makes him a great fit for the Blue Devils.

“I think he's a very good fit because Duke likes versatile guys who can shoot,” Jackson said. “And Alex can definitely shoot. But what makes him good is that he is a very well-rounded wing player. He puts it on the floor and has some shake, too. He keeps defenders guessing because he has that money jumper with range, but he's also a very good athlete who can shoot on the move, get to the rim and play above it on the break as well.

“I also like his length. The baby-faced wing is all arms and legs and he can elevate over smaller guys in tight quarters.”

O’Connell should give Duke some stability at the position going forward, particularly as Luke Kennard begins his upperclassmen years in Durham.

Ultimately, Duke is getting an outstanding prospect with an ability to produce in a Blue Devils uniform.

“I see O'Connell as a multi-year guy who has a little bit of Luke Kennard, a little bit of Marty Clark and a touch of Grayson Allen in his game,” Jackson added.

Duke’s scholarship offer was just one of many, including opportunities from Syracuse, NC State, Arizona State, Butler, Cincinnati, Clemson, UConn, Georgia Tech, Miami, Louisville, Iowa and Iowa State just to name several.

O’Connell is following in his father’s, Mike O’Connell, footsteps, who played at Duke during the Bill Foster era.

Stay tuned for more on O’Connell and his pledge to Duke.