John Blackwell sends six-word message following Duke basketball commitment originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Sometimes it's better late than never when it comes to making decisions. For John Blackwell, his journey to Duke was less than conventional. After entering the transfer portal as a top-five overall talent, the former Wisconsin guard mulled over his options.

There was Illinois, who came after him hard, and for good reason. John's father, Glynn Blackwell, played for the Fighting Illini in the mid-80s, and he was pitched on being a legacy recruit. That's hard to walk away from, but Duke presented his best offer. Few get the opportunity to play in one of the best venues in college basketball, and it's something Blackwell didn't take lightly.

“Duke fans, you’re getting a dog and a competitor," Blackwell told Field of 68 after committing to the Blue Devils on Tuesday.

Blackwell is coming off a banner year with the Badgers. He averaged 19.1 points per game on 44.1% shooting, including 37.5% shooting from beyond the arc. Wisconsin had an NCAA Tournament run before he eventually entered the transfer portal. Needless to say, he was one of Duke's biggest targets from the start and this is a great addition.

More: Cayden Boozer's return to Duke heats up transfer portal recruiting

Blackwell joins Jon Scheyer’s program who's looking to overcome back-to-back March Madness exits. Duke was this year's top-overall seed before falling to UConn in the final minute of the Elite Eight matchup.

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