Jon Scheyer and Duke have suddenly found themselves with a new centerpiece for their 2028 recruiting strategy after five-star prospect AJ Williams announced his decision to reclassify into the 2027 class.
Williams had been one of Duke’s most important recruiting priorities for the 2028 cycle, but his move into the 2027 class has forced the Blue Devils to adjust their long-term plans. Fortunately for Scheyer, Duke already has another elite prospect firmly on its radar and that player has just climbed to the top of the national rankings.
That prospect is Colton Hiller, a 6-foot-6 wing/forward from Coatesville, Pennsylvania, who has emerged as the No. 1-ranked player in the 2028 composite rankings.
Hiller becomes Duke’s new top 2028 target
Duke’s interest in Hiller is hardly a recent development. He is currently the only 2028 prospect holding an offer from the Blue Devils, a strong indication of how highly Scheyer and his staff regard him.
With Williams moving into the 2027 class, Hiller now becomes the obvious focal point of Duke’s 2028 recruiting efforts.
The five-star prospect is already regarded as one of the most talented players in his age group, regardless of class. His combination of size, shooting ability, offensive versatility and basketball instincts has made him one of the most coveted recruits in the country.
At 6-foot-6, Hiller possesses the physical profile of a modern wing while also showing the skill set necessary to operate in multiple offensive roles.
His advanced scoring ability has even led to comparisons with former Duke star Cooper Flagg, although Hiller is not considered quite the same explosive athlete Flagg was at a similar stage.
Where Hiller may have an advantage in his development is his perimeter shooting. His ability to stretch defenses and knock down difficult shots has already generated significant attention from college programs.
Duke appears to have an early recruiting advantage
Hiller is expected to have virtually every major college basketball program pursuing him before his recruitment is finished.
For now, however, Duke appears to be in an excellent position.
The Blue Devils are widely viewed as the early favorite, largely because of Scheyer’s established relationship with Hiller and the program’s recent success recruiting elite talent.
Scheyer has built a reputation for aggressively pursuing his preferred prospects, and when Duke identifies a player as a priority, the Blue Devils typically make that recruitment a major organizational focus.
Hiller appears to be next in line.
The shift in Duke’s recruiting priorities could therefore be significant. Rather than simply adding Hiller to a large group of 2028 targets, the Blue Devils can now make him the centerpiece of their class-building strategy.
Florida could complicate Duke’s plans
Duke shouldn’t expect to have an uncontested path to Hiller.
Florida could eventually become a serious challenger, particularly because of a unique family connection.
Hiller’s older brother, Maxwell Hiller, is a highly regarded five-star offensive-line prospect in the 2027 recruiting class and is committed to play football for Florida.
That connection could give the Gators an advantage if Hiller values the opportunity to attend the same school as his brother.
Florida basketball coach Todd Golden has transformed the Gators into one of the nation’s strongest programs, making Gainesville a legitimate destination for elite prospects.
Although Florida has not yet made the same level of recruiting push for Hiller that Duke has, that could change as his recruitment develops.
Hiller’s NBA potential makes the recruitment even more important
Another factor working in Duke’s favor could be Hiller’s projected professional future.
If he continues developing at his current rate, Hiller could be a legitimate one-and-done candidate, meaning whichever school lands him may have only one season to benefit from his talent before he potentially enters the NBA Draft.
That makes his recruitment especially valuable for programs looking to maximize immediate championship potential.
For Duke, landing Hiller would provide Scheyer with another opportunity to bring an elite, NBA-caliber prospect to Durham and potentially build an entire recruiting class around a future star.
Scheyer now has a clear 2028 priority
Williams’ reclassification has changed Duke’s recruiting timeline, but it has not weakened the Blue Devils’ position among elite prospects.
Instead, it has seemingly made Hiller the new centerpiece.
With Williams now focused on 2027 and Hiller sitting atop the 2028 rankings, Scheyer has a clear priority for the next recruiting cycle.
The competition will undoubtedly intensify as more programs enter the race, and Hiller’s recruitment could eventually become one of the biggest storylines in high school basketball.
For now, though, Duke appears to have an early advantage, and Scheyer is expected to apply significant pressure once the Blue Devils turn their full attention toward the 2028 class.
If Hiller continues to develop into the elite prospect many evaluators already believe he can become, Duke’s pursuit of him could become one of the most important recruiting battles of Scheyer’s tenure.
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