Duke’s offseason has been loaded with names, but John Blackwell may end up being the one that matters most when the Blue Devils tip off the 2026-27 season.
That might sound odd on a roster that already has plenty going for it. Jon Scheyer is coming off another 35-win season, and Duke has now reached at least the Elite Eight in three straight years. Even after the late collapse against UConn in the Elite Eight last season, the program is still sitting in a strong place heading into another high-expectation year.
The Blue Devils did lose three players to the NBA Draft, including star freshman Cameron Boozer, but the foundation in Durham is still sturdy. Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr are both back for their sophomore seasons, Patrick Ngongba II returns at center as a junior, and Caleb Foster remains an important piece in the backcourt.
The incoming class brings even more firepower. Duke has added big men Cam Williams and Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, both Top 5 recruits, along with Top 30 backcourt prospects Deron Rippey Jr. and Bryson Howard. The transfer portal also supplied help, with forward Drew Scharnowski arriving from Belmont and Jacob Theodosiou coming in from Loyola-Maryland.
Still, Blackwell is the addition that stands out.
He was one of the top players available in the portal, and he arrives in Durham after three years at Wisconsin. The 6-4 guard from Highland Park, Michigan started out as a solid reserve before turning into a centerpiece for the Badgers’ backcourt. Last season, he averaged 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
That kind of experience is gold for a Duke team that already has a pile of young talent. Scheyer has once again stacked the roster with elite recruits, but Blackwell gives the Blue Devils something different: a proven scorer who can handle a major role right away. He’s a tough matchup with real shooting ability, and Duke is counting on him to be one of its primary offensive weapons.
It’s easy to see why so many preseason projections have Duke near the top. The roster has a rare mix of returning players, high-end freshmen, and portal additions. Blackwell doesn’t have to duplicate last season’s production to make a big impact, but if he comes close to 19 points a game again, Duke’s ceiling gets even higher.
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Manny Diaz Sounds Alarm On NCAA Chaos Hitting ACC Rosters
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Manny Diaz has been one of the voices flagging how messy that can get for a league like the ACC, where roster management depends on knowing who is staying, who is leaving and who is suddenly eligible again. Even as the NCAA appeals those decisions, more challenges keep coming, leaving schools to build depth charts and recruitment plans in a system that still does not have clear final answers. [Read more 🡒]