Duke recruit may come a year earlier

Andre Dawkins, a highly ranked 2010 basketball recruit who has verbally committed to Duke, is considering joining the Blue Devils sooner as a member of the class of 2009.

"It's not a done deal at all," said Andre Dawkins, the recruit's father who goes by the same name. "It's a possibility we're looking into."

Dawkins' father said they will make a decision around Aug. 24.

Dawkins, who attended Atlantic Shores Christian School (Virginia Beach, Va.), would be a high school senior this fall.

He is considering enrolling at Duke early because he has almost met his graduation requirements, having completed his freshman year of high school at a public school before transferring and reclassifying as a freshman at his current school.

He has completed four years of high school.

Dawkins, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard, is currently enrolled in a course that if completed could help him possibly join the Blue Devils.

"He still has to complete something before that would take place," Dawkins' father said. "He has all of the requirements as far as credits. He did real well on the entrance exams."

He would also need to be cleared for eligibility by the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Dawkins' father said they looked at Elliot Williams' departure from Duke last month and contemplated the idea of leaving for Durham early.

He said the family had already decided Dawkins would leave Atlantic Shores and enroll at a prep school like Hargrave Military Academy.

-- Edward G. Robinson