No. 1 Super 5-Star Player, Stands 8.5-Foot-Tall, Commits to Duke Basketball Over Georgia and Florida Gators
In what will go down as one of the most unprecedented and jaw-dropping recruiting coups in college basketball history, the Duke Blue Devils have landed the commitment of the No. 1 overall player in the nation—a generational, once-in-an-ever human anomaly who stands at a staggering 8-foot-6 in shoes.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Meet Titan Cromwell, the 17-year-old sensation whose blend of size, skill, and sheer intimidation factor has left college coaches, NBA scouts, and even sports scientists in utter disbelief. Hailing from Kodiak, Alaska, and raised largely off the grid, Cromwell burst onto the national scene only a year ago, but he’s already become the stuff of recruiting legend. And now, he’s a Blue Devil.
A Commitment Heard Around the World
Cromwell made the announcement in front of a jam-packed gymnasium at his remote high school—which had to move the event to a nearby airplane hangar to accommodate both his height and the ESPN camera crews. Flanked by his parents and surrounded by local wildlife rescue personnel (the Cromwells live on a bear sanctuary), Titan donned a fitted navy-blue Duke cap and unzipped his jacket to reveal a custom-made jersey large enough to be used as a hang glider.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for a program that values tradition, skill development, and can build a court strong enough to support my weight,” said Cromwell with a calm, baritone voice that reportedly shook the bleachers. “Coach Scheyer made me feel like I was more than just a skyscraper with sneakers. I’m ready to make history.”
The Super 5-Star
Recruiting analysts scrambled to create a new rating system when Cromwell emerged on the circuit. A standard 5-star grade no longer felt sufficient. Thus, the “Super 5-Star” label was born—reserved exclusively for players so transcendent they force the NCAA to consider new rule changes before their arrival.
Cromwell is not only the No. 1 recruit in the 2025 class—he may very well be the most dominant prospect the sport has ever seen. His wingspan is an unheard-of 11 feet. He can dunk flat-footed. He reportedly recorded 18 blocks and 32 rebounds in a single half during the national championship of the Pangos All-American Camp. He shoots over 80% from the field and recently hit 18-of-19 three-pointers during a private workout that caused several Division I coaches to faint.
Georgia and Florida Gators Left Stunned
Duke’s victory in the recruiting war leaves two major SEC programs heartbroken: the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators, both of whom were heavily in the mix until the final days.
Georgia head coach Mike White had spent months building a strong relationship with the Cromwell family, even hiring a former forestry consultant to help bridge the cultural gap between campus and Titan’s rural Alaskan roots. Florida, meanwhile, had gone all-in, reportedly offering to construct a custom dorm with 12-foot ceilings and extra-large beds built by NASA engineers.
Despite those efforts, both programs were ultimately out-recruited by Duke’s blend of national prestige, player development history, and the program’s newly reinforced facilities capable of handling players of Cromwell’s scale.
“We did everything we could,” said Florida assistant coach Reggie Thomas. “We pitched him on legacy. We pitched him on comfort. But in the end, Duke’s track record and the chance to compete for a title won the day.”
Scheyer’s Masterstroke
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer has landed top recruits before, but Titan Cromwell could be his program-defining moment. Since taking over for Coach K, Scheyer has quietly continued to recruit at an elite level, but critics wondered if he’d be able to deliver a true transcendent star.
He just answered those questions in thunderous fashion.
“Titan is unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said Scheyer in a post-commitment press conference. “He’s coachable. He’s humble. He’s a basketball savant trapped in a Marvel character’s body. He changes everything about how we play, how we defend, how we practice. The ceiling with him—literally and figuratively—is higher than ever.”
The Logistics of Size
While excitement reigns in Durham, there are real challenges ahead.
Duke officials confirmed that Cameron Indoor Stadium will undergo minor retrofitting to accommodate Cromwell’s arrival. These include:
- Custom-built locker with reinforced beams and hydraulic ventilation.
- Extended-height showers with 12-foot plumbing.
- Bespoke travel arrangements, as Cromwell will not be able to sit comfortably in standard charter seats.
A spokesperson for Duke Athletics confirmed that Nike is already designing a signature line of size 26 sneakers, and sports nutritionists have devised a meal plan that includes upwards of 12,000 calories per day.
“We’ve worked with bigs before,” said Duke strength coach David Bradley. “But this is different. We’re literally rewriting the rulebook of sports science here. It’s part excitement, part engineering challenge.”
Early NBA Buzz and NIL Fortune
The NBA is already on notice. While rules prevent Cromwell from entering the draft directly from high school, he’s projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2026—and scouts say that’s a mere formality.
“He would go first in this year’s draft,” said one Eastern Conference GM anonymously. “He’d probably go first in any draft ever.”
And then there’s the NIL angle. Titan Cromwell is expected to sign the most lucrative name-image-likeness deal in NCAA history, reportedly valued north of $18 million over one year with additional bonuses based on social media performance, jersey sales, and brand exposure. Multiple multinational companies are said to be in bidding wars, including GoPro (which wants to mount a camera on his head during practice), Tesla (to design a custom SUV), and LEGO (for a life-size action figure).
His Instagram following jumped from 22,000 to 4.3 million in the hours following his commitment.
Opponents Already Dreading the Matchup
Opposing ACC coaches are already bracing for the headaches Cromwell presents. How do you scheme against a player who can block your three-pointer while standing in the paint?
“I don’t even know where to begin,” said one anonymous ACC assistant. “We might have to bring ladders to practice just to simulate it. He’s like Wilt Chamberlain meets the Eiffel Tower.”
Duke fans, on the other hand, are already fantasizing about banner No. 6.
Cromwell joins a 2025 recruiting class that includes two other five-star standouts: point guard Bryson Marshall and swingman Taye Reynolds. But even those blue-chippers know the team is about to orbit a new sun.
“We’ve seen great big men before—Shaq, Yao Ming, Wemby,” said ESPN’s Jay Bilas. “But none of them moved like Cromwell. He can handle the ball, he runs the floor, and he plays with IQ. He’s a cheat code.”
Titan’s Background: A Modern Myth
Cromwell’s story reads like folklore.
Raised on a bear sanctuary by his parents—his mother, a former WNBA center, and his father, a structural engineer—Titan grew up climbing glacier cliffs and lifting logs for fun. He didn’t play organized basketball until he was 15, preferring wildlife rescue and homemade science experiments.
When he finally joined an AAU team—Alaska IceBlood—he put up numbers that defied reality. One scout, after watching him drop a triple-double in three minutes, quit on the spot and changed careers. “I’ve seen what I needed to see,” he reportedly muttered.
The Future of College Hoops Has Arrived
Cromwell’s decision to attend college rather than immediately pursue overseas or semi-pro options sends a powerful message: the NCAA, at least for now, still holds allure for even the most generational athletes.
“I want to compete for a national title,” Titan said. “I want to grow, learn, and lead. Coach Scheyer is building something, and I want to be the cornerstone.”
He also hinted at a desire to reshape how big men are perceived in the modern era.
“I’m not just tall. I can shoot, I can pass, I can read the game. I’m here to prove that giants can hoop with finesse, too.”
It’s not often that a commitment sends shockwaves through not just college basketball but all of sports. But Titan Cromwell isn’t just another No. 1 prospect—he’s a once-in-a-century phenomenon who forces the game to adapt around him.
And now, he’s headed to Durham.
For Coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils, the future isn’t just bright—it’s towering.
