BREAKING: DUKE BLUE DEVILS LAND VERSATILE 5-STAR GUARD IN BLOCKBUSTER COMMITMENT OVER KENTUCKY, KANSAS, AND NORTH CAROLINA — HE STATES TWO BIG REASONS FOR PICKING DUKE….READ MORE…..

DURHAM, NC — In a massive recruiting win that is sending shockwaves through college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils have officially landed 5-star guard Jayden Thomas, one of the most electrifying and versatile players in the 2025 recruiting class. Thomas announced his commitment to Duke on Sunday afternoon, choosing the Blue Devils over powerhouse programs Kentucky, Kansas, and North Carolina.

Ranked No. 4 nationally by 247Sports and widely regarded as one of the most complete guards in high school basketball, Thomas is a 6-foot-5 combo guard out of Montverde Academy (FL). Known for his elite shot creation, lockdown defense, and high basketball IQ, Thomas has drawn comparisons to NBA stars like Jrue Holiday and Anthony Edwards.

“This was a decision I didn’t take lightly,” Thomas said during a live announcement streamed on Instagram. “I took my time, visited all the schools, talked to the coaches — but at the end of the day, Duke felt like home.”

When asked what stood out the most about Duke, Thomas didn’t hesitate to give two strong reasons:

“First, it’s Coach Jon Scheyer,” Thomas said. “He’s a young coach who really understands my game. He’s played at Duke, won at Duke, and now he’s building his own legacy. I want to be part of that. He sees me not just as a scorer, but as a leader — someone who can run the team and defend at a high level.”

“Second, it’s the brotherhood,” he added. “You can feel it when you’re on campus. It’s real. You see all the Duke guys still coming back — Jayson Tatum, Kyrie, Ingram, Zion. That culture is strong, and I want to be part of something bigger than just basketball.”

The commitment instantly pushes Duke’s 2025 class into the national spotlight. Thomas joins fellow top-20 recruit Malik Richardson, giving the Blue Devils one of the most explosive backcourts in the country.

“Jayden’s the type of player who can change a program,” said ESPN recruiting analyst Paul Biancardi. “He defends all three perimeter spots, can play on or off the ball, and has a pro-level mindset. This is a major win for Duke.”

Duke fans immediately flooded social media with excitement. Within minutes of the announcement, “Welcome to Duke” was trending nationwide on X (formerly Twitter).

Thomas is expected to make an official visit to Durham in August and will play his senior season at Montverde before heading to Cameron Indoor Stadium in 2025.

For Duke, this commitment isn’t just about adding talent — it’s about sending a clear message to the rest of the college basketball world: the Blue Devils are still the gold standard in elite recruiting.