John Blackwell’s decision to leave the NBA Draft and head to Duke has already shifted the conversation around the Blue Devils’ roster.
The former Wisconsin transfer had some uncertainty hanging over his next move, but he ultimately withdrew from the draft after pledging to Duke. That gives Jon Scheyer a major addition for Durham and, based on the latest portal rankings, one of the most coveted players available.
ESPN slotted Blackwell as the No. 3 player in this transfer portal class, and the case for him being even higher is easy to see. He put up 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds for Wisconsin this season while also taking a clear step forward as a perimeter shooter, knocking down nearly 39% of his 3-point attempts.
“Pre-commitment analysis: Blackwell should be one of the most explosive scorers in the country next season. He averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Badgers this season while improving his consistency on the perimeter to make nearly 39% of his 3-point attempts. After playing off the ball next to Nick Boyd at Wisconsin, Blackwell wants to be more of a playmaker at his next stop.
“Outlook with new team: Jon Scheyer desperately needed a big-time scorer on the perimeter, and he landed the best one in the portal with Blackwell. He will have plenty of competition for the role he has said he wants -- more on-ball responsibility -- but completes arguably the deepest perimeter group in the country,” ESPN wrote.
For Duke, that kind of scoring punch matters. Blackwell projects as a centerpiece in the Blue Devils’ backcourt mix and should be one of the most important players in college basketball next season.
If everything clicks, a first-team All-American season isn’t out of the question. Even so, Duke won’t be asking him to carry the whole load alone. The bigger point is simpler: Blackwell is a high-level player, and he gives the Blue Devils a real chance to be exactly what they want to be.
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Duke May Have Found The Answer To Its Biggest Defensive Concern
Dukes defensive line got a notable addition through the transfer portal with the arrival of Owen Wafle, a former highly regarded recruit who is looking for a fresh start after struggling to carve out steady playing time in college. The tackle brings a pedigree that made him a coveted prospect out of high school, and the Blue Devils will now try to turn that upside into production in a room that needed reinforcement.
Wafles path has already taken him through two major programs, and Duke is betting that a change of scenery can help unlock the consistency that has been elusive so far. He is expected to compete for a starting job next season, giving the Blue Devils another option in the middle of the line as they keep reshaping the defense for the year ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Former Duke Standout Devin Lynch Earns Major Pro Extension
Devin Lynchs first pro season has gone about as well as Denver Summit FC could have hoped when it brought in the former Duke standout on a one-year deal in January. The Duke womens soccer graduate quickly settled into a major role, turning a rookie opportunity into a steady presence for a club that has clearly seen enough to make a longer commitment.
Lynch has now been extended through the 2028 season with a mutual option for 2029, a sign that Denver views her as part of its core rather than just a promising first-year addition. Head coach Nick Cushing has praised the way she has handled the jump to the pro game, and the move gives Lynch a chance to keep building on a debut season that has already made her one of the more important young pieces on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Jon Scheyer Still Faces The Duke Question Fans Can't Ignore
Jon Scheyer has already built a Duke rsum that would look impressive almost anywhere else. In four years, the Blue Devils have reached the Elite Eight three times and the Final Four once, and they have been a steady force in the ACC while Scheyer has settled into the job once held by Mike Krzyzewski. For all that progress, though, the conversation around Duke still circles back to the same place, because the programs standard is not deep March runs alone.
The lingering question is whether this is the season Scheyer finally turns those trips into a championship breakthrough. The recent pain points are hard to ignore, from the blown 17-point lead against UConn in the Elite Eight to the loss to Houston in the 2025 Final Four, and those are the kinds of defeats that stick with a blue-blood program. Duke has been close under Scheyer, but close is not the same as cutting down the nets, and that is the gap fans will be watching all season. [Read more 🡒]