Yorkville Christian's Jayden Schutt leaves Duke University

Let's have lunch. And they did.

Duke's Jaden Shutt landed in Blacksburg, Virginia, and jumped through the NCAA transfer portal to his new basketball home, Virginia Tech's campus, in preparation for the start of summer school.

The once Blue Devils are now the Hokies.

It took Yorkville Christian alumni a little less than a month to relocate. This shows just how much, and how quickly, the transfer portal is impacting college powerhouse athletics. That's how the system works.

The reason for the move was simple and clear.

“I was able to improve, but at the end of the day, it doesn't show if you can't get on the court,” Schutt said of his time at Duke. “At the end of the day, I'm a basketball player. I want to play.”

That role came with an offer from Virginia Tech coach Mike Young to fly to Durham, North Carolina, and have lunch with Schutt just days after the 6-foot-5 sophomore filled out portal paperwork. was.

Schutt surrendered his Duke University scholarship on April 15, tax day, but like many other stories, it's not completely over.

Let's go back over two years.

Schutt was preparing to lead Yorkville Christian to a Class 1A state title as a senior before committing to Duke as a member of coach John Scheyer's first recruiting class.

Shire was the successor to retired legend Mike Krzyzewski, while Schutt was the area's most highly-anticipated basketball recruit since East Aurora star Ryan Boatright chose UConn.

Boatwright won the national title in 2014 and then began his professional career overseas.

Schutt considered signing with Duke a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but the portal had an early negative impact, as his playing time as a freshman was limited by the veteran transfer.

He appeared in just 14 games his freshman year, averaging 2.1 points.

Schutt redshirted last fall, giving him time to heal from a foot injury and continue to develop. But then he suffered an avulsion fracture in his thumb, requiring surgery.

Midway through the season, Schutt tore the meniscus cartilage in his knee, which also required surgery. The injury did not involve his anterior cruciate ligament, as some reports indicated.

Still, Schutt was surrounded by top-level talent after being ranked No. 50 on the ESPN 100 in the 2022 class.

“I was one of the lowest players in my class, but the No. 1 class in the country,” Schutt said of Duke. “Everything in me wanted to climb the highest mountain every day.

“I thought it would give me a chance to practice with and play against NBA-level players.”

Schutt continues his post-surgery rehabilitation and said he will be ready in the fall.

He had over 20 Division I scholarship offers during his time at Yorkville Christian. However, Duke's Atlantic Coast Conference rival Virginia Tech was not among them.

Schutt entered the portal and began hearing from his coach again. He visited four of his final five schools: Dayton, Butler, DePaul and Virginia Tech.

Wisconsin was also considered, but Schutt's planned visit was canceled.

“I wouldn't change anything about the past two years,” said Schutt, who maintains a good relationship with Scheier and the coaching staff.

Schutt didn't know Young personally, but he did his homework for two years, studying the game plan for Duke's game against Virginia Tech. It gave him some insight into the program.

“Young is pretty down to earth,” Schutt said of his new coach. “When he came for a lunch visit to get to know me, it had a positive effect on me.

“Basically what appealed to me is that I studied them in preparation and saw their style of play and thought, 'This would be a great offense with what I do.' I remember that.”

Young's team is taking full advantage of the 3-point shot, which is a specialty for Schutt, the program's all-time 3-point leader who just graduated from Virginia Tech.

It could mean good times ahead.