Duke missed out on legendary 5-star recruit as fans wonder what could have been

The history of Duke men's basketball is filled with legendary recruits who had top-tier careers for the Blue Devils.

Recently, fans of the historic program have been wishing they simply had landed one more special hooper.

That player? Long-time NBA contributor Shaun Livingston.

Livingston was the No. 2 recruit nationally in his 2004 class as a high school player out of Peoria, Illinois. He was ranked as a 5-star player by anyone who compiled recruiting rankings back then.

And Livingston was committed to Duke.

It's easy to forget now, because Livingston had a horrific left knee injury in the nascent stages of his NBA career that robbed him of much of his athleticism. But when he was in high school, he was compared to a poor man's LeBron James.

MORE: Caitlin Clark reveals her MJ vs. LeBron GOAT decision

At Duke, he almost certainly would've been an instant superstar. He probably would've contended for national player of the year.

Duke's 2004-05 team included five players that went on to see NBA time, led by star JJ Redick. A Livingston and Redick backcourt would've been unstoppable.

At that time, though, Livingston could still enter the NBA Draft out of high school, and he chose that route.

The Los Angeles Clippers chose him No. 4 overall, and he eventually overcame his injury to become a key role player on the Warriors' dynasty led by Steph Curry.

But man, to think what would've been if Livingston went to Duke. He'd likely be a college basketball legend.

MORE: Paul George trades explain how Thunder, Pacers each reached conference finals