Jon Scheyer has assembled a Duke roster for 2026-27 that checks a lot of boxes, but the one spot that still looks a little unsettled is power forward.
The Blue Devils have already stacked veteran guard play with John Blackwell and Caleb Foster, and both are expected to matter when March rolls around. They’ll be flanked by returning starters Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba II, who both appear set up to take another step after another offseason in the program.
That leaves the final starting spot, and that decision may end up being the biggest early storyline for Scheyer’s lineup. Duke is expected to lean on a true freshman at the four, with the battle likely coming down to five-stars Cameron Williams and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje.
Williams has long been viewed as the favorite, but Boumtje Boumtje’s strong summer has changed the picture. He’s now forcing a real conversation for the job.
Even so, both freshmen should see major minutes no matter who opens games. The bigger question is how quickly Williams can eliminate the concerns that could trim his role.
On3’s Jamie Shaw recently flagged a potential issue with Williams, writing: "I am intrigued to see how it looks at Duke this season," Shaw wrote."He did a lot of his work away from the basket in high school, shooting over the top of most players he stepped on the floor with. He played a little upright, oftentimes losing leverage, and he was an inconsistent rebounder and poor defender."
That defensive piece matters a lot in Durham. Scheyer has made defense the foundation of his teams, and Duke has finished 16th or better in KenPom’s defensive efficiency in all four of his seasons. Over the last two years, the Blue Devils have been in the top five, including a No. 2 finish last season.
That means Williams’ path to a major role is pretty clear: defend at a high level or risk sliding down the rotation.
The encouraging part for Duke is that the raw tools are obvious. Williams has the size to fit at both the three and the four, plus the length and athleticism to bother wings and frontcourt players alike. The question is whether that versatility can translate on the defensive end.
Playing him at center may be too much to ask. Shaw’s comments suggest Williams is more likely to split time between the four and the three, while Boumtje Boumtje has the size and strength to handle some minutes at the five behind Ngongba.
That’s also why the addition of Belmont transfer Drew Scharnowski matters. Duke needed a veteran big who could absorb minutes and set the tone with effort on defense, especially while the younger pieces sort themselves out.
Williams can score from all three levels and brings real offensive skill, but his future - both at Duke and as an NBA prospect - will be shaped by what he does on the defensive end.
He’s in the right place for that kind of development.
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Duke's Rebuilt Secondary Already Faces Pressure To Fix A Costly Problem
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Stones role goes beyond his own production, which has included 142 tackles in 32 career games, because Duke is leaning on its defensive backs to settle in quickly and make the back end more reliable. The focus has been especially sharp on third downs, where the Blue Devils want cleaner execution, and Stone also pointed to the importance of linebacker leadership as the defense tries to turn camp competition into something more dependable once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]