Duke saw the departure of quite a bit of talent in the 2025 NBA draft as three Blue Devils — Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach — were selected in the top 10. Two more Duke players, Sion James and Tyrese Proctor, also heard their names called in the second round.
That’s a lot of talent to replace, but it could have been six players drafted. Isaiah Evans, a five-star recruit who averaged 6.8 points and 1.1 rebounds coming off the bench as a freshman last season, originally declared for the draft, as well.
Evans likely would have been selected, but he opted to withdraw from the draft and return to Duke for his sophomore year as he should see an increased role in 2025-26.
Coach Jon Scheyer addressed Evans’ experience with the draft process and the conversations he had with the guard as he made his decision.
“Some of the conversations I’ll cherish the most this season were after the year with Isaiah, because it wasn’t just telling each other what we want to hear; it was about his life,” Scheyer said earlier this month, according to The Fayetteville Observer. “This is an important decision for his life and what he does next. I thought he handled it in a really mature way, him, his mom, his circle just allowing him to make this decision for himself and not be in a hurry. He shouldn’t just be drafted, he should be ready when that time comes.”
Evans had bright moments as a freshman, averaging 17.2 points during a four-game stretch late in the season, but he cooled off during the postseason and ultimately opted to return for his sophomore year. Scheyer said he and Evans spoke candidly this offseason about the areas he needs to improve upon in his second season.
“I think he understood that he’s gotta address some areas of his game. I had to show him, get him to understand what that picture looks like. It’s our responsibility as a coaching staff for how we can help get him there. He’s gotta be the one to do it,” Scheyer said.
“But I love those conversations. I think those conversations set the foundation for what he can do this season. It was all based on truth. It wasn’t based on me trying to persuade or convince and it wasn’t based on him threatening or what other people were trying to do. … That was a real decision that he had to make. I want him to just enjoy this and not put the weight of the world on his shoulders, and be present. He’s gonna be terrific for us.”
Duke adds some star-studded newcomers, including a pair of five-star recruits in Cameron Boozer and Nik Khamenia. But the Blue Devils will also look for production from their returning players, and Evans could be poised for a breakout campaign as he looks to boost his draft stock.
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