Duke basketball has officially secured its first commitment from the class of 2026. Five-star forward has pledged to join the Blue Devils, choosing Duke over North Carolina and Kentucky. While head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff were believed to be strong contenders for the talented wing, his decision still came as a surprise to many fans. Reports surfaced on October 20th that he would announce his decision between Duke, UNC, and Kentucky the following day. Just hours later, a crystal ball prediction pointed toward the Blue Devils—and the next day, Howard made it official. Scheyer, who has been making strides with several top 2026 prospects, now lands his first major commitment from one of the class’s fastest-rising stars.
The 6-foot-5, 188-pound forward is ranked No. 12 overall, No. 4 among small forwards, and No. 1 in the state of Texas according to the 247Sports 2026 Composite Rankings. The Heritage High School (TX) standout has been one of the biggest risers in the 2026 recruiting cycle. Just months ago, Howard was unranked, but after a dominant summer showing on the EYBL circuit, he vaulted into 5-star status.
“It felt like home, really,” Bryson Howard said after committing. “You know, how I fit into their play system. Off-ball screens, backdoor cuts, getting up and down defensively… it’s really great, and it made the most sense to me.”
“A whole lot of energy, y’all. I’m on the way,” Howard added when asked what Duke fans can expect from the 5-star forward.
Howard took visits to all three finalists this fall, but once he announced his commitment date, multiple reports indicated that Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils were in control.
“Howard is a long and athletic southpaw wing who changes the game on both ends of the floor,” said 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein in his evaluation. “He attacks the rim in straight lines, getting downhill and absorbing contact with a physical style. He rises up to finish above the rim and is a lob threat. He also has a translatable shooting stroke and has even shown some flashes of being able to make movement shots (45% 3pt, 75% FT), which is very unusual for someone so young (won’t turn 18 until following his high school graduation) and with such long arms (6-foot-11 wingspan).”
Scheyer and his staff now hope Howard’s commitment is just the beginning, as several other top 2026 prospects have recently been linked to Duke. Following official visits from 5-star recruits Jordan Smith Jr. and Cameron Williams during Countdown to Craziness, major developments involving both players could signal that more commitments are on the way to Durham.