Jon Scheyer’s name is already getting pulled into the same NBA conversation that surrounded Dusty May, and that’s not exactly the kind of buzz Duke fans want to hear.
College basketball is in a strange stretch right now, with the sport changing fast enough to make even bold moves feel believable. A few months ago, the idea that May would leave for the Dallas Mavericks would have sounded outrageous. Then it happened, and May himself had already hinted after winning the national title that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep coaching in college.
That broader instability is part of why some are now looking at what could come next for Duke. The fear, at least for Blue Devils fans, is that Scheyer might one day be the next big coach to head for the NBA.
Shams Charania put it bluntly: "My understanding is that Dusty May always felt, whether it was going to be this offseason, next offseason, and the years to come, he was going to make the jump to the NBA," Charania said. "Eventually, Jon Scheyer is going to make a jump, from all accounts, to the NBA. He's just got that build to him, that mold to him."
Scheyer has earned that kind of respect. He’s viewed as an elite head coach, and the idea that he could eventually succeed at the NBA level is very much on the table.
That doesn’t mean it’s happening right now, and nobody is saying Duke is about to lose him today. But after the May move, it’s harder to dismiss the possibility than it was before.
In Other News...
Duke Just Landed A Surprise 2027 Pledge With Brotherhood Ties
Dukes 2027 recruiting class got an early start with a pledge that carries both upside and a familiar family thread. Kager Knueppel, a four-star forward who has climbed to No. 52 nationally, chose the Blue Devils over a number of other suitors, giving Jon Scheyer and his staff their first commitment in the cycle.
The decision also adds another layer to Dukes recent ties to the Knueppel family, which has already become well known around Durham. Kager had been on the radar of several programs, including Wisconsin, Purdue, Toledo and DePaul, but the Blue Devils were able to move quickly and land him before the rest of the 2027 picture had really taken shape. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Just Got The Offseason Outcome Every Blue Devils Fan Wanted
Patrick Ngongbas decision to stay in Durham gives Duke something every program wants in late spring: a proven big man who has already shown he can take a real step forward. After a sophomore season in which his production climbed across the board, the center now gives the Blue Devils a frontcourt piece with both upside and familiarity, a valuable combination for a team trying to build around continuity as much as talent.
There is still a little risk in any conversation about Ngongba because of the games he has already missed in college, and that is part of why his next season matters so much. For Duke, though, the bigger picture is clear enough: keeping a projected first-round talent in the program instead of losing him to the draft only strengthens the roster, and it also gives Ngongba another year to polish his game before the NBA comes calling again. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Just Sent Another Early Message In The 2028 Recruiting Race
The 2028 recruiting board is already starting to take shape, and Duke has made another move to keep itself near the front of it. Colton Hiller, a five-star small forward from Pennsylvania, said on social media over the weekend that the Blue Devils have extended him an official scholarship offer, adding his name to a class that is drawing early national attention.
Hiller is one of the more coveted prospects in that group, and Duke is clearly not waiting around while other heavy hitters get involved. The Blue Devils have been pursuing multiple 2028 targets as part of their strategy, which fits the usual pattern in Durham of getting in early, staying visible and forcing elite prospects to think about Duke long before signing day becomes real. [Read more 🡒]