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Courier Journal

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A top five 2018 basketball recruit made his decision Friday night, and Kentucky is still without a verbal commitment in the class.

Cameron Reddish chose Duke over Kentucky, UCLA, UConn and Villanova in an announcement video produced by The Players' Tribune.

"People say I’m laid back," Reddish said in the video. "They say I’m quiet. But they don’t see what’s most important. They don’t see the work. To me, basketball is about what you do when no one’s watching. The way I see it, I’m not a prospect. I’m a work in progress. There’s always more to learn.

"And that’s why I’m going somewhere that I can be challenged as a leader, challenged as a student, challenged to grow up, on and off the court."

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The 6-foot-8, 195-pound small forward from Norristown, Pennsylvania is the No. 4 overall player in the senior class according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Duke has recruited the 2018 class at its customary high level. Formerly the No. 1 overall recruit in the class, forward Marvin Bagley committed to the Blue Devils and reclassified to the 2017 class and will play in college this season. Class of 2018 five-star point guard Tre Jones committed to coach Mike Krzyzewski last month.

Reddish is considered a "positionless" player due to his versatility, size and skill set.

"Pass, score, whatever you need me to do to win," Reddish told the Courier-Journal in June. "I would say my playmaking ability would be my best attribute."

He played for Kentucky coach John Calipari on the U-19 FIBA World Championship in July. The team won the bronze medal and the experience gave Calipari and Reddish a chance to gauge one another — a trial run.

In the end, the unique recruiting angle didn't work for Kentucky. The Wildcats are still in pursuit of their first pledge in the class. Kentucky has offered class of top 10 talents R.J. Barrett, Zion Williamson, Bol Bol, Romeo Langford, Darius Garland and Immanuel Quickley.