Duke’s first live look of the 2026-27 season gave the Blue Devils plenty to like in a 102-62 scrimmage win over Belmont at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Thursday night, and not all of the noise came from the obvious headliners.
Sophomore Dame Sarr and freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje drew the biggest attention, but a few other Duke players turned in performances that hinted at how deep this roster can be. The talent, size, and depth that had been a constant preseason talking point were on display from the jump.
One of the clearest bright spots came from five-star freshman guard Deron Rippey Jr., who is entering a unique role in his first college season. He was one of the top guard prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, but his path at Duke starts with reserve minutes. Even so, he looks ready to carve out a real place in the rotation.
Rippey finished with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 22 minutes. What jumped out most was his defensive edge.
He brought a physical presence on the perimeter that helps cover for any height concerns, and the athleticism is obvious. On top of that, he already showed enough command to run the offense and handle the ball like a true floor general.
Sophomore Cayden Boozer also made a strong case for a bigger role after starting against Belmont with Caleb Foster sidelined. Foster is still expected to be Duke’s starting point guard, but Boozer handled the opening unit well and looked comfortable organizing things.
The Miami native posted 12 points, four rebounds, an assist, and two steals while shooting 2-of-4 from three-point range in 22 minutes. That outside shot is going to be worth watching all season.
As a freshman, he made just 30.3% of his threes on 1.7 attempts per game, but the potential is clearly there for more. With his passing, feel, and defensive presence, Boozer already has the profile of a high-end college guard.
Then there’s Maxime Meyer, the 4-star Canadian seven-footer who is more of a long-term piece than an immediate fixture. He logged 13 minutes against Belmont and showed enough to keep the long view interesting.
Meyer looked mobile, switched some on defense, and used active hands to make life difficult. He also flashed a little ball-handling on the offensive end. The freshman finished with four points, four rebounds, and a steal, and while his minutes may stay limited early, the raw ingredients for a valuable two-way big man are there.
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