As if we needed any more confirmation that Kyrie Irving’s top two schools are Indiana and Duke, here comes Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle confirming that to me today in a phone call.
Irving has already said he will visit both schools officially this fall, and he has yet to name any other planned officials.
“I would not be surprised at all if he went to Indiana,” said Boyle, whose team should be ranked among the top two or three in the nation this season. “There’s no question that Indiana has been there all along and has done a great job recruiting him. I think they have an outstanding chance of getting him.
“And I would not be surprised if he went to Duke,” Boyle added. “Any time you’re being recruited hard by the guy who’s the current and last Olympic coach [Mike Krzyzewski], it’s gonna definitely be a concern for any [other] school when Duke’s recruiting you.”
Boyle said he also wouldn’t discount Seton Hall as a dark horse.
“Seton Hall is a little bit on the outside, but they keep working, keep working,” Boyle said. “They might end up getting him at the end. Seton Hall’s worked tremendously hard on a consistent basis and who knows? Maybe all their hard work will pay off.”
The 6-1 Irving was recently named the MVP of the Nike Global Challenge. He plans to cut his list to five after the Boost Mobile Elite 24 game next Friday.
Kentucky, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Virginia are also in the mix.
“Georgia Tech and Virginia may be on the outside looking on,” Boyle said.
FREE THROWS
2010 guard Andre Dawkins enrolled at Duke early and will suit up this year…2010 guard Jeremy Lamb visited UConn Friday and has unofficials scheduled for Georgia, Auburn and Clemson, and an official set for Texas on the first weekend of September, per David Borges of the New Haven Register…Former Duke guard Jason Williams is attempting a comeback…in China…Jeff Goodman does a nice job breaking down the top non-conference games of the upcoming college season. I know one thing: I’ll be there Dec. 9 for that UConn-Kentucky game. I just hope I don’t get poisoned like I did at the Big East Tournament, when an uncooked hot dog in the media room put me close to death. Ask Jeff, he was seated right next to me. I missed the 6-OT game between Syracuse and UConn…all thanks to a bad hot dog!
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(photo courtesy Irving family)
