Caleb Foster’s SLAMU digital cover shoot got a surprise guest, and it was the kind of Duke reunion that tells you the bond from that 2023 recruiting class still runs deep.
Jared McCain, now in his second season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and averaging over 10 points per game, showed up to support Foster while the Duke guard was filming for the cover that was released publicly Wednesday. Foster and McCain were part of a 2023 Blue Devils recruiting group that ranked No. 2 in the country and included four composite five-star talents. Over three years later, Foster is the only one still in Durham.
The connection between the two was obvious during the shoot. Foster said, “This is where we started at,” while standing beside McCain after he arrived to “crash” the session. “We talk often.”
Foster has made no secret of how much McCain means to him. He said he attended McCain’s first playoff game last season and was overwhelmed seeing his former teammate on that stage.
“I went to his first playoff game [last season],” Foster said about McCain. “It was just so emotional because my boy was actually out there doing it.
And it’s like, he’s out there playing with LeBron [James]. I was geeked.
I was over there hollering. It made me want to go harder and get in the gym.
“And his brother, Jayce [McCain], is here; he’s my player development coach. Anytime I call, want to get in the gym, Jayce is there...
I’ve got love for the McCain family. I feel like they’re my family at this point.”
McCain’s reaction matched the feeling. He said the two have known each other since “one of those USA camps or something,” and added, “But man, this is my brother right here...
He came into our ['Freshman Four' group chat] and said, 'Yo, I'm about to be on a SLAM cover.' I was like, 'What? '
“And so, it’s awesome to see. I was listening to the whole interview back there.
Yeah, man, just a good dude. Just a great dude right here.”
Foster’s path at Duke has had its bumps, but he’s stayed in the mix. Last season, he was a full-time starter for a Blue Devil team that went 35-3 and reached the Elite Eight. He posted career highs across the board, averaging 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
His season was interrupted by a foot fracture in the regular-season finale against UNC, which sidelined him for the ACC Tournament title run and Duke’s first two NCAA Tournament games. He returned in time for the Sweet 16 win over St. John’s and gave the Blue Devils a major lift off the bench.
This preseason brought another setback, as a minor ankle injury kept him out for two-thirds of Duke’s exhibition schedule. He hasn’t yet reclaimed a starting role, and in Monday night’s 84-50 win over Army, he came off the bench for 20 minutes, scoring four points with one rebound while shooting 2-for-6 from the floor and 0-for-3 from deep.
Now Duke turns to Coastal Carolina, which visits Cameron Indoor Stadium at 8 p.m. ET Thursday on ACC Network.
In Other News...
Manny Diaz Just Gave Duke Fans A Reason To Stay Worried
Manny Diaz spent part of the week trying to quiet the kind of noise that tends to follow a coach when a bigger job opens up, publicly denying any interest in leaving Duke for Florida State after Mike Norvells departure. Diaz said he is happy in Durham and locked in on the current season, framing the chatter as nothing more than a distraction for a team trying to keep its footing.
Still, the speculation has lingered because Florida State is the kind of opening that naturally pulls a coachs name into the conversation, whether there is anything concrete behind it or not. For Duke, the concern is less about what has been confirmed and more about having to navigate another round of outside attention around a coach who has become central to where the program is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Duke's Walk-On Standout Is Suddenly In A Prestigious Award Race
A Duke offensive lineman has pushed his way into the conversation for one of college footballs most distinctive honors, earning a nomination for the 2026 Burlsworth Trophy. The award goes to the most outstanding player in the FBS who started his career as a walk-on, and it has become a meaningful marker for players who built their roles the hard way.
For Duke, the nomination is a reminder of how much value can come from the unheralded parts of a roster, especially along the offensive line. The selection committee will narrow the field later in the year before naming finalists, with the winner set to be unveiled at the December award show, leaving this Blue Devils storyline with plenty of runway still ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Already Looks Built To Exploit UNCs Biggest Early Weakness
Dukes opening-night win over Army offered an early glimpse of the kind of edge the Blue Devils can lean on again and again. The 84-50 result was built on defense and control of the glass, with Duke winning the rebounding battle 37-28 and looking every bit like a team that can turn missed shots into extra possessions.
North Carolinas first game told a different story, even in a narrow 80-72 win over Western Carolina. The Tar Heels were outworked on the boards 41-32, a concerning sign for a frontcourt already dealing with the absence of transfer Cameron Fens, whose ineligibility affects their rebounding depth. If that issue lingers, Dukes early strength could become a very real problem for its biggest rival. [Read more 🡒]