USC guard Desmond Claude is a 6‑foot‑6 junior who began his career at Xavier before transferring to USC.
With the Trojans, he averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds on 48.2% shooting in 2024‑25.
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Yet despite emerging as USC’s leading scorer, Claude decided to enter the transfer portal, seeking his third program in four years.
In high school, Claude was a standout at Putnam Science Academy (CT), where he was rated a four‑star recruit (No. 86 on the 247Sports composite, top three in Connecticut).
Now in the portal, Claude’s reported suitors include Gonzaga, Duke, Virginia, Ole Miss and Kentucky.
Duke, in particular, initiated contact over the weekend as Claude seeks a proven backcourt mate and a roster built for deep NCAA runs, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello.
Duke just completed a 35-4 campaign under third‑year coach Jon Scheyer.
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The Blue Devils won both the ACC regular‑season (19-1) and tournament titles, earning a #1 seed, and reaching the Final Four before a 70-67 loss to Houston.
Adding Claude would bolster Duke’s guard depth to help replace the losses of stars Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, and Sion James, who have all declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer.Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
After ranking among the top 150 in scoring in 2023-24 and top 125 in assists nationally last season, all eyes will be on Claude as his decision nears.
Claude will weigh his options over the coming weeks, factoring in roster fit, immediate playing time, and each program’s style of play.
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As college basketball enters its “free agency” era, moves like this could decide who hoists the trophy in March.
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