Cassius Stanley Commits To Duke

Cassius Stanley Commits To Duke

Duke added to the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation on Monday with Cassius Stanley, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Los Angeles.

Apr 22, 2019 by Adam Zagoria
Cassius Stanley Commits To Duke

Duke added to the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation on Monday when Cassius Stanley, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Sierra Canyon High School in Los Angeles verbally committed to the Blue Devils via a video release.

Stanley chose Duke over Kansas, Oregon, and UCLA. He followed 6-foot-8 power forward Matthew Hurt, who pledged to Duke on Friday.

Duke's five-man recruiting class ranked No. 1 by 247Sports.com also includes guard Boogie Ellis, wing Wendell Moore, and big man Vernon Carey Jr.

"Cassius Stanley is a premier athlete with great perimeter skills," Reggie Morris, who coached Stanley with Team Whynot on the Nike EYBL circuit, told FloHoops.com. "He is a big-time competitor and all he does is win. And for as much attention as he has had at a young age, he’s one of the best young men I have had the privilege to coach.

"He will come in from day one and be able to make plays for himself and others. He’s a great rebounder from the guard position and can defend multiple positions."

During the 2018-19 season, Stanley led Sierra Canyon School to a second consecutive CIF State Open Division title, averaging 17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists a game. The Trailblazers (32-3) finished No. 12 overall in the USA Today Super 25.

Duke entered Stanley’s recruitment late but made an impression when he visited the weekend of April 12.

“More than anything, it was good for me to see a school on another coast," he told USA Today. "It’s historic and they worship basketball there in North Carolina, so that’s cool.”

Stanley may have tipped his hand in a video released ahead of his commitment. He displayed jerseys from each of his four choices, but only Duke featured his No. 3. The others all had No. 1.

Playing with Team Whynot, Stanley picked up tips from NBA star Russell Westbrook, who sponsored the team.

Westbrook watched Stanley play a year ago at the Nike EYBL stop in Atlanta.

"It was just really cool to talk to [Westbrook] and interact, pick his brain during the game and see what he's seeing," Stanley told FloHoops last May.

"On the court, he was telling me to limit my space, what area I want to be attacking from. He basically said to limit it to the middle of the floor. That was good. I took that advice from him on the bench and utilized it in the game and saw instant success."

Now, Stanley will bring that success to Duke in the first recruiting class that has the unenviable task of following Zion Williamson and Company.

Still, Mike Krzyzewski has reloaded and Duke will be among the favorites yet again.

Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who runs ZAGSBLOG.com and contributes to The New York Times. Follow Adam on Twitter.

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