Duke’s roster has a different kind of buzz this preseason: not just top-end talent, but real, layered depth.
ESPN’s preseason top 100 backs that up. Five Blue Devils made the cut, with transfer John Blackwell leading the group at No.
- And that number still doesn’t capture everyone who could matter for Jon Scheyer’s team, with Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer also back after productive stretches last season.
Blackwell is the headliner, but the list stretches across the roster and gives a pretty clear picture of how many options Duke has going into the year.
Cameron Williams comes in at No. 97. The top power forward and No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 recruiting class is expected to get minutes right away, though the expectation is that his early impact won’t quite match what Cooper Flagg or Cameron Boozer delivered as freshmen.
Dame Sarr is next at No. 78. The sophomore is coming off a season in which he averaged 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists, and the sense is that his game should take a noticeable jump now that he’s settled into the college level.
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje slots in at No. 34 after showing off against Belmont in the exhibition game. The 17-year-old France native posted 19 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in that outing, a strong reminder of why he’s so highly regarded.
Patrick Ngongba checks in at No. 28 after his own eye-opening exhibition against Kansas. The junior scored 28 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and went 9-of-10 from the free-throw line.
Then there’s Blackwell, sitting at No. 8.
One of the most impactful transfers from the offseason, he gives Duke a scorer who can fit into a system where he won’t have to carry the same load he did at Wisconsin. Even so, when the Blue Devils need a bucket, he has the kind of game that can produce points from all over the floor.
In Other News...
Duke Fans Have One Huge Reason To Watch Asa Montgomery Today
There is plenty happening around Duke right now, but the spotlight today is on the recruiting trail, where five-star small forward Asa Montgomery is expected to announce his college commitment. For a program that keeps landing in the conversation for elite talent, this is the kind of decision that can shape both the immediate future and the long view, especially with the Blue Devils already carrying momentum from a roster that includes names like Kager Knueppel and Luke Paul.
The timing adds to the buzz, too, with former Duke standouts Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer off to strong starts in the NBA and the football program gearing up for a key home game against Boston College during a demanding stretch. Still, for basketball fans, Montgomerys announcement is the headline worth circling, because it could give Duke another major piece to build around and keep the programs talent pipeline rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Freshmen Just Gave Jon Scheyer A Real Rotation Problem
Duke is coming out of preseason with something every coach wants and every rotation chart hates: options. As the Blue Devils get ready to host Army in their regular-season opener, a handful of freshmen have already made the case that they belong in the mix, with Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Deron Rippey Jr., Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard all showing different flashes of what they can bring. For Jon Scheyer, the early challenge is less about finding talent than figuring out how to sort through it.
The upside is obvious, but so is the uncertainty that comes with freshmen learning the pace and demands of college basketball. Some of those roles figure to change from game to game as Duke settles in, which gives the staff flexibility but also creates a tricky balancing act once the games start counting. The opener should offer a first real look at how much trust Scheyer is willing to place in that young group right away. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Faces A Real Test As Boston College Brings New Momentum
Boston College is showing up to this Atlantic Coast Conference matchup with a little more life than its record might suggest, and Duke will have to be ready for it. The Eagles have pieced together back-to-back comeback wins, leaning on the kind of late-game resilience that can change the feel of a season, and now they get their first meeting with Duke since 2022 in a game that should tell both teams something.
For the Blue Devils, the timing is interesting after a close win over Virginia, the kind of game that can either sharpen a team or leave it vulnerable if the edge slips. Duke will be watching its own health as well, with Walker Eget expected to play despite a recent finger injury, while Boston College brings Mason McKenzie, Bo MacCormack III and a bit of momentum into a matchup that suddenly looks more demanding than it might have a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]