Duke Basketball Enters Fray for Underrated Recruit Maximo Adams
In a recruiting twist that’s beginning to send ripples through the college basketball landscape, Duke has officially extended a scholarship offer to Maximo Adams, a 6-foot-8 forward out of Encino, California, whose recent summer circuit performances have turned him from an obscure three-star to one of the hottest uncommitted names in the 2025 class.
Though relatively under the radar during his junior season at Crescent Valley High, Adams erupted at the Nike EYBL in Chicago last month, averaging 18.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game against elite competition. His stat line is impressive, but it’s the way he scores—silky fadeaways, coast-to-coast transition finishes, and lockdown defensive sequences—that has earned him comparisons to a young Lamar Odom.
Duke’s interest was piqued during an early July evaluation period, when head coach Jon Scheyer and assistant Jai Lucas watched Adams dominate both ends of the court in front of a packed gym. “He’s a two-way beast with untapped potential,” one ACC scout noted. “The type of player who becomes a lottery pick if developed properly.”
The Blue Devils, long known for recruiting five-star juggernauts, have recently shifted toward a more balanced roster-building approach. With Jeremy Roach expected to depart after this season and freshman wing Cooper Flagg projected to be one-and-done, Adams presents a compelling long-term asset. He’s not a viral highlight reel machine like Flagg or an Instagram sensation, but his motor, basketball IQ, and sheer versatility have earned admiration from old-school scouts.
Interestingly, Adams has never played on a nationally ranked prep team, and his recruitment has largely flown under the radar due to a late growth spurt and a quiet AAU profile. That’s now changing fast. In the past three weeks, Kansas, Arizona, and UConn have all extended offers, but it’s Duke’s late entry that seems to be turning heads—and perhaps even his own.
“Getting an offer from Coach Scheyer and Duke means everything,” Adams said in a recent interview. “It’s validation that the work is paying off. Duke is Duke. That blue means something.”
Though his recruitment remains open, sources close to Adams suggest that the Duke offer significantly altered his outlook. “He grew up watching Duke in March,” said his high school coach, Lionel Graves. “Grant Hill, Zion, Tatum—that’s the lineage. It’s surreal for him.”
If Adams does ultimately commit to Duke, he’ll bring the type of underdog edge that’s recently powered the program’s new era. In a basketball climate dominated by flash and flair, Maximo Adams offers something different: grit, hunger, and a chip on his shoulder the size of Cameron Indoor.
And while other programs may continue to chase stars, Duke may have just found a future one hiding in plain sight.
