Video: Marques Bolden highlightsNew Duke pledge led DeSoto to Texas Class 6A state title as a senior.
Five-star center
Marques Bolden of
DeSoto (Texas) was one of the last difference-makers on the board in high school basketball's Class of 2016.
Regarded as the top center prospect in the country by
247Sports, the 6-foot-11 senior finally ended his recruitment Thursday by committing to Duke. Bolden's decision was
streamed live by SportsDayDFW.com reporter Michael Florek and attracted nearly 5,000 viewers.
Bolden was the top unsigned and uncommitted prospect remaining in the Class of 2016. 247Sports has him pegged as the No. 15 overall player.
As a senior at DeSoto, Bolden averaged over 23 points and 10 rebounds per game. The Eagles went 35-2 en route to the Texas Class 6A state title and No. 10 national ranking by MaxPreps.
The addition of an elite big man will fuel already major expectations at Duke next season. With Bolden on board, head coach Mike Krzyzewski has four of the Top 15 prospects in the 2016 class headed to Durham to join key returnees Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard, Matt Jones and Amile Jefferson.
Marques Bolden's pledge to Duke on Thursday helped the Blue Devils edge Kentucky for college basketball's top recruiting class.
Photo by Kenneth Toso
