Damian Dunn, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound combo guard from Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Georgia, became the first player from the 2019 class to verbally commit to Temple when he announced his decision on Twitter Saturday night.
He also became the first player to commit to Aaron McKie, the Owls' associate head coach and former Temple and Philadelphia 76ers star guard who will succeed current head coach Fran Dunphy and take over the Temple program following the 2018-19 season.
Dunn chose the Owls over offers from Georgia Tech and VCU, among others. He took an official visit to Temple Sept. 6 and hosted McKie and assistant coach Chris Clark on an in-home visit Sept. 17.
Dunn, who played his first three seasons at North Carolina's Kinston High School, averaged 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals as a junior. Kinston has produced several NBA players, including former North Carolina and NBA star Jerry Stackhouse (he played at Kinston prior to transferring to Oak Hill Academy for his senior season) and most recently Brandon Ingram, who won four-straight state titles there before playing at Duke and eventually becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Lakers.
Dunn decided back in June to transfer to Meadowcreek, a program that includes several of the teammates with whom he plays on the Stackhouse Elite AAU team. Meadowcreek posted a 26-6 record last season and claimed the GHSA 7A State Championship.
The Owls, who open their season at home Nov. 6 at the Liacouras Center against La Salle, still have at least two more scholarships to offer for the 2019 class and remain involved with Imhotep star Donta Scott, who is ranked 141st nationally by Rivals, and 3-star 7-foot-2 center Naheem McLeod, who plays at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School.
Scott is finishing up his final official visit at South Carolina this weekend.