In a stunning recruiting coup, the Louisville Cardinals have jumped Duke for the commitment of 2025 McDonald’s All American five-star recruit, Bryson Tucker. Tucker, a 6’7″ small forward from Georgia, had been heavily recruited by both Louisville and Duke, but ultimately chose the Cardinals over the Blue Devils.
Tucker’s commitment to Louisville is a major boost to the program’s recruiting efforts, which have been building momentum in recent months. The Cardinals have already landed several top prospects in the class of 2025, including a pair of four-star guards and a highly touted power forward.
“I’m thrilled to announce that I’m committing to the University of Louisville,” Tucker said in a statement. “The coaching staff, the facilities, and the tradition of excellence at Louisville all played a major role in my decision. I’m excited to be a part of the Cardinal family and can’t wait to get to work with my new teammates.”
Tucker’s decision to choose Louisville over Duke is a significant upset, as the Blue Devils had been considered the favorite to land the five-star recruit. However, Louisville’s coaching staff, led by head coach Kenny Payne, made a strong push for Tucker in the final weeks of his recruitment.
“We’re excited to welcome Bryson to the Louisville family,” Payne said. “He’s an exceptional young man with a tremendous amount of talent. We’re looking forward to seeing him develop into a dominant force on the court.”
Tucker’s commitment to Louisville is also a testament to the program’s growing reputation as a destination for top talent. The Cardinals have a rich tradition of producing talented players, including NBA stars like Russ Smith and Montrezl Harrell.
“Bryson is a huge get for Louisville,” said ESPN recruiting analyst, Jeff Borzello. “He’s one of the top players in the class of 2025, and his commitment is a major coup for the Cardinals. Louisville is building a strong recruiting class, and Tucker’s commitment is a big part of that.”
Duke, meanwhile, is left to regroup and refocus its recruiting efforts. The Blue Devils had been counting on landing Tucker, and his decision to choose Louisville is a significant blow to their recruiting class.
“We’re disappointed to lose Bryson, but we wish him all the best,” said Duke head coach, Jon Scheyer. “We’ll continue to work hard to build a strong recruiting class, and we’re confident that we’ll find another talented player to fill the void left by Bryson’s departure.”
In conclusion, the Louisville Cardinals have pulled off a major recruiting coup, landing 2025 McDonald’s All American five-star recruit Bryson Tucker over Duke. Tucker’s commitment to Louisville is a significant boost to the program’s recruiting efforts, and a testament to the program’s growing reputation as a destination for top talent.