Desmond, a USC guard Before moving to USC, Claude, a 6’6″ junior, started his career at Xavier.
In 2024–2025, he averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.5 rebounds while shooting 48.2% for the Trojans.
However, Claude chose to use the transfer site in search of his third program in four years, even though he had been USC’s top scorer.
Claude excelled at Putnam Science Academy (CT) in high school, earning a four-star recruit rating (ranked No. 86 on the 247Sports composite, among the top three in Connecticut).
As of right now, the site lists Gonzaga, Duke, Virginia, Ole Miss, and Kentucky as potential suitors for Claude.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Duke in particular reached out over the weekend as Claude looks for a backcourt partner with experience and a team prepared for long NCAA runs.
Duke, led by third-year coach Jon Scheyer, just finished with a 35-4 record.
Before losing to Houston 70-67, the Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four, earned a #1 seed, and won the ACC regular-season (19-1) and tournament crowns.
In order to assist replace the departures of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor, and Sion James—all of whom have declared for the 2025 NBA Draft—Claude would increase Duke’s guard depth.
As his choice draws closer, all eyes will be on Claude, who finished in the top 125 in assists nationally the previous season and among the top 150 in scoring in 2023–24.
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Over the next several weeks, Claude will consider his choices, taking into account each program’s style of play, squad fit, and instant playing time.
Moves like these might determine who wins the trophy in March as college basketball enters its “free agency” era.
