Jon Scheyer is adding a top international prospect to Duke basketball’s 2025-26 roster.
Dame Sarr, a 6-foot-7 Italian guard, committed to the Blue Devils on May 22. Sarr announced his decision via a social media post, giving Duke a fourth player in its 2025 recruiting class. Illinois and Kansas were among the other programs pursuing Sarr, an 18-year-old prospect expected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“It was always a dream to play at a place like Duke,” Sarr said on an episode of Duke’s Brotherhood Podcast, which was released on the same day as his commitment to the program.
“When I saw the guys from last year that went to the draft, I saw that there was this chance for me. Talking with Coach Scheyer, I had a very clear picture of how they saw me and how they saw me with the team. I like that picture. … I think this is the biggest stage.”
Sarr is the third international prospect to join Duke since Scheyer took over the program ahead of the 2022-23 season, joining Tyrese Proctor (Australia) and Khaman Maluach (South Sudan). On the Brotherhood Podcast, Sarr mentioned Zion Williamson and Paolo Banchero, who has Italian roots, as two Duke players that caught and kept his attention as a young hooper.
Here’s a closer look at Sarr and how he could fit with the Blue Devils.
Dame Sarr scouting report as Duke basketball recruit
Duke assistant coach Emanuel Dildy serves as host of the Brotherhood Podcast episode featuring Sarr. At one point during the 24-minute conversation, Dildy asks Sarr to give a breakdown of what he can bring to the Blue Devils.
“I grew up playing as a point guard a lot, because I was very little, very short,” Sarr said. “Then, when I hit my growth spurt, I started to play at (shooting guard). … I think I’m an adaptable player … smart player, who can create for me and for others.”
Sarr was teammates with former Duke one-and-done star Jabari Parker for FC Barcelona in Spain as part of the Euroleague.
“He fried me,” Sarr said with a laugh when asked about one-on-one games with Parker, who played in the NBA.
Sarr likes to pick up things from NBA players such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum, trying to learn and implement parts of their skill set into his own game. His overseas stats don’t pop off the page, but he averaged 3.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in nearly nine minutes across 27 games. He shot 53.7%, including 44.8% from 3-point range.
During April’s Nike Hoop Summit in Oregon, Sarr caught the attention of NBA personnel with 17 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes for the International squad against a U.S. team that included future teammates Cameron and Cayden Boozer.
Dame Sarr fills need for Jon Scheyer, Blue Devils if Cedric Coward stays in NBA Draft
Sarr’s commitment fills an immediate need for Scheyer and the Blue Devils, who were in need of some help on the wing after the recent developments with Washington State transfer Cedric Coward. A prototypical two-way wing, Coward committed to the Blue Devils on April 28 while maintaining his wishes to continue through the NBA draft process.
As of May 22, it seems likely that Coward will stay in the draft as a projected first-round pick. He has until May 28 to withdraw his name and maintain his college eligibility. If Coward sticks with the professional route, Sarr could be in the starting lineup as a freshman alongside another projected one-and-done standout in Cameron Boozer.
Sarr has two-way potential as an instant impact player for a roster that returns Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster, Maliq Brown, Patrick Ngongba and Darren Harris. Cayden Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia are the other recruits in Duke’s 2025 class.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.