Born in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, Duren flashed rare physical tools early on the AAU circuit with Team Final. By the time he transferred to Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy, scouts were already projecting him as a future top-five pick. Montverde placed him against premier national competition, where his raw defensive anticipation and vertical pop stood out against older prospects.
During the 2020, 2021 high school season, Duren anchored a Montverde roster loaded with future pros, driving them to a national title while establishing himself as the undisputed number-one recruit in the country. Rather than playing out his senior year of high school, Duren made a calculated gamble in August 2021. He reclassified into the 2021 recruiting class, cut short his prep tenure, and bypassed traditional developmental timelines to accelerate his professional trajectory.
