Duke’s recent run of freshman stardom has been hard to miss, and the Blue Devils may have another pair of headline-makers on the way.
Over the last two seasons, Jon Scheyer’s program has produced back-to-back Naismith College Player of the Year winners from the freshman class. Cooper Flagg took the honor in 2024-25, then Cameron Boozer followed last season.
Both delivered one-and-done seasons before heading to the NBA, and both helped push Duke deep into March. Flagg’s team reached the Final Four in 2024-25, while each of those squads advanced at least to the Elite Eight, even though neither finished with a national title.
Now Duke is looking at two more freshmen who could carry that kind of weight: Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Cameron Williams.
Williams arrives as a 5-star prospect and a McDonald’s All-American, bringing a 6-foot-10 frame and the kind of versatility that fits the mold of Duke’s recent freshman stars. He’s viewed as a lottery pick in the 2027 NBA Draft, and the expectation is that he can step in and make an immediate impact.
Boumtje Boumtje may be even more intriguing. The seven-footer is being talked about as one of the best amateur prospects in the sport, thanks to a rare blend of traits: NBA-range shooting, a capable handle, strong finishing ability, and real value as a rim protector. Because he is 17, he’ll be at Duke for at least two seasons and won’t be draft eligible until 2028.
He just added another line to his resume at the FIBA U17 World Cup, where he earned MVP honors for Team USA. Boumtje Boumtje put up 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game, then closed the tournament with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks in the championship game against Serbia.
Both freshmen now head into their Duke careers with the same assignment: help a team that is aiming to contend for the National Championship again.
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Duke's New Five Star Arrives With Huge Expectations Already Waiting
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For Duke, the intrigue is not just about what Boumtje Boumtje has done, but how quickly he may fit into a rotation that needs size and impact inside. He is expected to factor prominently alongside Patrick Ngongba II, and with a two-year path ahead in Durham, the long view is just as compelling as the immediate one, especially with draft chatter already beginning to swirl around a player who will not be eligible until 2028. [Read more 🡒]