Duke basketball strengthened its position as the top-ranked recruiting class for 2025 with the commitment of Shelton Henderson on Saturday. The 6-6, 220-pound small forward from Bellaire, Texas, announced his decision in a live YouTube video, choosing Duke over Texas and Louisville. Henderson credited Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer and associate head coach Jai Lucas for making a lasting impact on his decision. Lucas, who also hails from Bellaire, Texas, played high school basketball in the same area. Henderson expressed his gratitude for their belief in his potential and said he was eager to make an immediate impact as a freshman.
Henderson, who made an official visit to Duke in late September and returned for the Countdown to Craziness event at Cameron Indoor Stadium, is a versatile forward known for his scoring ability, whether through jump shots or drives to the basket. Rated a five-star recruit and the No. 15 player in the country by 247sports.com, Henderson is the fourth commitment in Duke’s 2025 class, joining three other five-star prospects. Among them are twins Cameron Boozer, a 6-9 power forward ranked No. 2 nationally, and Cayden Boozer, a 6-4 point guard rated No. 21. Both are the sons of former Duke player Carlos Boozer. Henderson and the Boozer brothers played together in international competition in Argentina last summer, building a strong connection on the court.
In addition to Henderson, Duke’s 2025 class also includes 6-8 power forward Nikolas Khamenia, a four-star recruit from Harvard Westlake High School in Los Angeles, who is ranked No. 19 in the class. Even before Henderson’s commitment, Duke was ranked No. 1 in the nation by 247sports.com, ahead of UConn, Notre Dame, LSU, and Iowa State. As the season opens with Duke’s game against Maine, the Blue Devils are expected to lose several players to the NBA after this year, including highly regarded freshmen Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maulach. Guards Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster could also make the jump to the NBA if they have strong seasons. Duke is still in the hunt for another five-star recruit, 6-9 power forward Nate Ament, ranked No. 4 in the class. Ament, from northern Virginia, has visited Duke twice and has also made official visits to Texas and Louisville, with a trip to Notre Dame scheduled for Nov. 9.
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