Under coach Jon Scheyer, the Duke men’s basketball team appears to be ready for the 2025–2026 season.
The Blue Devils welcomed a proven transfer and the top-rated recruiting class in the country, while also bringing back strong contributors. Isaiah Evans, who is anticipated to make an impact for the team, and guard Caleb Foster return to Duke.
Foster was a vital reserve for the Duke Blue Devils at the start of his rookie campaign. He missed the ACC and NCAA tournaments after suffering a stress fracture in his ankle in February 2024. Over the course of 27 games, Foster averaged 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
Maliq Brown, a forward, brings depth and energy, while Darren Harris returns ready to challenge defenders. Patrick Ngongba II offers leadership, rebounding, and inside presence, while Cameron Sheffield is a dependable role player in the rotation.
The twins, Cameron and Cayden Boozer, are five-star prospects and the sons of Carlos Boozer, a former Duke standout.
Scheyer’s staff also brought in Nikolas Khamenia and European Dame Sarr.
Khamenia can produce reliable shooting from all around the court, he can finish near the rim with either hand, and is a ball handler.
In 2025, Khamenia was the fourth-ranked small forward, the fifth-best player in California, and the 16th-ranked recruit nationwide.
On May 22, Dame Sarr, a 6-foot-7 Italian guard, made his commitment to the Blue Devils.
Sarr played in the EuroLeague alongside seasoned professionals while in Barcelona this season. Sarr shot 52.1% from the field and 42.9% from three-point range in 12 Spanish league basketball games, averaging 5.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
Sarr can shoot well outside and is a great size on the wing.
“Duke was my dream school,” Sarr told ESPN. “I watched a lot of NCAA games this season, especially Duke. I played with Jabari Parker in Europe this season, who went to Duke. When I had the chance to go there, I had to take it.”
Despite losing a significant portion of its 2025 Final Four lineup, Scheyer’s combination of elite freshmen, seasoned players, and international talent guarantees the Blue Devils could compete for the national championship.
While players such as Evans, Ngongba, and Sarr help the team, Cameron Boozer, who is already one of the most well-known names in college basketball, is yet another freshman superstar who hopes to make as much of an impact as Cooper Flagg did for last year’s squad.
The program is once again expected to win a championship, and Duke has a strong, versatile group that can compete at the highest level going into the 2025–2026 season.