The nation's top 2018 recruiting class just got even better.
According to 247Sports, highly-touted Duke commit Joey Baker has announced that he will reclassify from 2019 to 2018, joining R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Cameron Reddish—the nation's top three recruits in ESPN's class of 2018 rankings—as well as point guard Tre Jones.
“Me and coach [Jon] Scheyer have a really good relationship and we talk a good amount, we just felt like to take my game to the next level this would be the best way to do that,” he told Evan Daniels of 247Sports. “I felt like it was the best choice.”
Baker, a 6-foot-7 shooter out of Fayetteville, N.C., is currently ranked No. 15 in the class of 2019, and could help replace some of the Blue Devils' shooting ability that was lost with the departures of Grayson Allen and Gary Trent Jr.
However, with a loaded incoming class, Baker also noted that it's possible he'll redshirt next year, opting to use the opportunity to practice against top recruits in order to better prepare himself for the future.
Baker committed to Duke on Oct. 29, 2017, electing to sign with Duke instead of N.C. State, Wake Forest and North Carolina, among others.
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