De Jong’s Detour: How a Duke Decommitment Led to an Auburn Homecoming

After a whirlwind few months of uncertainty, Poly Prep pitcher Justice de Jong has landed where he feels he truly belongs — Auburn University. The former Duke commit recently announced his decision to head south, embracing a fresh start and a new chapter in his baseball journey.

de Jong’s love for baseball runs deep. “I’ve been playing since I was three or four,” he shared. “My grandpa first introduced me to the sport and the Yankees, and I just fell in love with it right when I first saw them.”

At Poly Prep, de Jong flourished both on and off the field. “It’s been amazing. I’ve loved every second of it,” he said of his high school experience. “Being able to get close to all the baseball guys and build such a strong bond has made me a better player and a well-rounded person.”

Initially, Duke seemed like the perfect fit. “Duke had always been a dream school of mine,” he explained. “The coaches were awesome, and I loved the mix of academics and athletics. It felt right.” But when Duke’s entire coaching staff left for Virginia, de Jong was forced to reevaluate. “Baseball is such a big part of it, and the coaches were a huge variable in why I chose the school,” he said. “Them not being there anymore really gave me no reason to stick with my commitment.”

With Duke off the table, de Jong was back in the recruiting world — only this time, he had a clearer vision of what he needed. A visit to Auburn changed everything. “It felt like home right when I got there,” he said. “The town was beautiful, the people were so nice, the food was amazing, and the facilities were top-notch. They really take baseball seriously — it felt like a major league environment.”

More than just the baseball, Auburn’s values resonated deeply with de Jong and his family. “One thing that really caught my mom and I’s attention was their focus on being faith-driven,” he said. “They have a very Christian-oriented program, and they’re not afraid to share their beliefs — which I really like.”

De Jong also appreciated Auburn’s more personal approach. “It was such a family-oriented feeling,” he recalled. “The coaches didn’t even ask me to call them ‘coach.’ 

Looking ahead, Justice is focused on making an immediate impact. “The goal is to go in, do my job, and hopefully come out as a starting pitcher,” he said. “God willing, I want to be a Freshman All-American.”

Still, through all the changes, de Jong remains grateful. “I don’t regret committing to Duke,” he said. “But now that things have changed, I’ve gotten to visit schools I wouldn’t have otherwise. It's been more exciting than stressful. I really feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

In the end, de Jong’s path wasn’t linear — but it led him exactly where he needed to be. His story is a reminder that every commitment has a journey behind it.