Duke Basketball, Jon Scheyer land commitment from TJ Power
Shrewsbury (Mass.) Worcester Academy five-star recruit TJ Power tells On3 he has committed to Duke.
Power, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward, chose the Blue Devils over a final group of UNC, Virginia, Iowa, and Boston College. He also received offers from UCLA, Kansas, Notre Dame, Providence, and others.
The versatile forward is Duke’s fifth commitment in 2023, only strengthening the Blue Devils’ No. 1 ranked recruiting class. Power joins five-star SF Mackenzie Mgbako (No. 5), five-star PF Sean Stewart (No. 13), five-star PG Caleb Foster (No. 14), and five-star SG Jared McCain (No. 18).
UNC vs. Duke; head-to-head on the recruiting trail
Power ranks as the No. 20 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, the average ranking from all four major recruiting media companies.
TJ Power broke down his commitment to Duke with On3.
Power: “I see the vision with Coach Scheyer and I’m all in.”
Ultimately, why did you choose Duke?
“In the end, I chose Duke because of my educated gut feeling. I understand the opportunity I’ll have there and my heart told me it was the one for me. Playing at a school like Duke has always been a dream of mine but I had to make sure I was choosing the school based on my relationship with the coaches and the feeling I had when I was on campus because that’s guided me the most throughout this whole process. I see the vision with Coach Scheyer and I’m all in. Not only does Duke have everything I need to bring my game to the next level, it has everything I need to set my life on a course for success off the court.”
Coming to a decision was “difficult”, but Duke felt like “home”
How difficult of a decision was this for you?
“It was an extremely difficult decision for me. I’ve been blessed to be recruited by some of the top schools in the country but more importantly some of the best overall people in college coaching. Those relationships I made along the way were real and I can’t thank those schools enough for believing in me. But at the end of the day, it is a good problem to have. I had to set my mind on the school that felt like home, which was Duke.”
Duke is getting a “balanced basketball player” in Power
What type of player is the program getting in you?
“I would say they’re getting a really balanced basketball player who can do a lot of things on the floor. I can score at all three levels, see the floor like a point guard, and make winning plays on both ends. With the level of talent we’ll have on the floor, I think my playmaking will be on full display and I’ll be able to score in different ways.”
Power has a message for the Cameron Crazies
What’s a message you have for Duke fans?
“I would definitely tell Duke fans to get excited because I know I am. I really think Coach Scheyer and the staff have put together an amazing class that will put on a show night in and night out. I’m ready to put on that uniform and get Cameron rocking.”