An old rivalry has resurfaced on the recruiting trail, with Maryland battling Duke for one of the nation’s top prospects. On Monday, On3’s Joe Tipton announced that 2026 top-30 recruit Sebastian Wilkins has narrowed his list to two schools — Maryland and Duke — and will announce his decision on Friday, May 23 at 4 p.m. ET.
Wilkins, a 6’8″ forward out of Brewster Academy, is rated as the No. 29 overall prospect in the nation, the No. 4 power forward in the country, and the No. 1 player in the state of New Hampshire. Although he held offers from programs like Virginia, Florida State, Seton Hall, and Providence, Wilkins ultimately viewed Maryland and Duke as the two best options.
Sebastian Wilkins Could Reignite Duke-Maryland Rivalry
Wilkins’ commitment to either Duke or Maryland could very well reignite the rather dormant rivalry between the two programs.
The rivalry between the Blue Devils and the Terrapins has become one of the most intense in all of college basketball. A Harris Interactive poll of Marylanders ranked this as the top college basketball rivalry in the state, and the third-best in all of Maryland sports (behind only the Washington Commanders’ rivalries against the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens).
However, the rivalry between the Blue Devils and Terrapins is debated among the two fan bases. Duke students tend to focus on their rivalry with the North Carolina Tar Heels given the history and proximity between the two schools. Many Blue Devils fans are of the mindset that Maryland is not a real rival, pointing to Duke and North Carolina’s rivalry and the fact the Blue Devils’ record against the Terrapins.
NEWS: 2026 Top-30 recruit Sebastian Wilkins will announce his college commitment on Friday, May 23rd at 4:00 PM ET.
The 6-8 Forward has narrowed his list of schools down to two — Duke and Maryland. https://t.co/qwHM65vXxJ pic.twitter.com/puBOFXPhkh
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) May 19, 2025
Maryland fans largely see their game with Duke as the biggest game of the year. Riots have broken out at College Park after Duke games (regardless of whether Maryland wins or loses). Legendary sports journalist Michael Wilbon has referred to Duke’s rivalry with the Terrapins as “one of the best rivalries in one of the best basketball leagues in the country.”
Wilkins, who’s from Massachusetts, has completed official visits with each of the finalists. He visited Duke earlier in the month and Maryland back in mid-April. Buzz Williams and his staff were previously recruiting Wilkins at Texas A&M, and when Williams joined Maryland, that recruiting continued at College Park.
Wilkins also received offers from Virginia, Arizona State, West Virginia, Florida State, Seton Hall, Iowa, Boston College, Alabama, Providence, Rutgers, and others.
Wilkins is the No. 29 overall recruit in the 2026 recruiting cycle, according to the On3 Sports Industry Rankings, which grades each player based on an aggregate score of the top four recruiting companies. He’s also the No. 4-ranked power forward and the No. 1 player in New Hampshire.
On3’s Jamie Shaw described Wilkins as a high-floor forward: “Steady production, that is something that we have come to expect from Sebastian Wilkins. The 6-foot-7 forward moves with a purpose off the ball and he does a good job finding advantageous positions before getting involved in the play. Wilkins is a high-floor forward who plays with motor and strength, but more importantly, he does not attempt anything he cannot do.”
Given the fact that Maryland and Duke are involved, along with the fact that Wilkins is one of the top prospects in the country, this could certainly be a massive win for Williams and add fuel to an already terrific rivalry.
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