Jahlil Okafor, the No. 1-rated basketball player in the recruiting Class of 2014 according to Rivals.com, and No. 5 Tyus Jones, today announced on ESPNU they would be attending Duke on basketball scholarships.
The duo chose Duke over runnerup Kansas University, though Baylor also was a major player for the two.
Moments after missing out on Okafor and Jones, KU got good news from Chicago big man Cliff Alexander, the fourth-ranked prospect in the Class of 2014:
http://www2.kusports.com/news/2013/nov/15/no-4-recruit-cliff-alexander-picks-kansas/
Okafor, 6-10, 270 from Chicago’s Whitney Young High, averaged 20.9 points (off 69.8 percent shooting), 8.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks his junior year.
Jones, 6-1 from Apple Valley (Minn.) High, averaged 20.6 points and 7.0 assists per game a year ago.
“Jones is a heady floor general and a tough competitor. He runs the show and is in total control of what is happening while he has the ball,” writes Rivals.com’s Eric Bossi. “He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes and shoots with accuracy. Jones isn’t the biggest or most explosive athlete but he has great body control and balance.”
Of Okafor, Bossi said: “Jahlil Okafor is one of the most skilled and poised back to the basket centers to come along in some time. He establishes and holds positions, finishes with either hand and is a great rebounder. Okafor isn’t a high flyer but fully understands how to use his skill and size advantage.”