Jon Scheyer’s offseason haul has Duke looking loaded again, but the biggest reason for the buzz might be the one name added from the portal: John Blackwell.
Duke stacked the deck in a major way this offseason. The Blue Devils brought in a recruiting class built around four 5-star prospects, kept important pieces such as Dame Sarr, Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer, and then made another splash by landing the Wisconsin guard. Blackwell arrives after a junior year in which he averaged over 19 points per game and shot 39% from three-point range.
That kind of production is exactly why the spotlight is so bright now. Duke has put together elite teams in each of the last two seasons, only to watch both NCAA Tournament runs unravel in painful fashion - against Houston in the 2025 Final Four and against UConn in the 2026 Elite Eight. The Blue Devils have been close, but not close enough.
One thing that has stood out in those two seasons is how much Duke leaned on its forwards. Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer carried the load, while the guard play never quite matched the rest of the roster. That dynamic is supposed to flip in 2026-27, and Blackwell is at the center of it.
Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sweeney recently ranked Blackwell as the No. 1 shooting guard in the country and said he expects him to be Duke’s leading scorer. That’s a loud statement, but it fits the way this roster is built. Blackwell gives Duke a proven scorer, and he may also end up as the Blue Devils’ best player overall.
The backcourt has the chance to be the real difference-maker. Blackwell and Foster are expected to hold down the two starting guard spots, giving Duke a veteran base in the backcourt.
Boozer, now entering his sophomore season, showed real growth late last year when he stepped in for the injured Foster. He was a major part of Duke’s ACC Tournament title run and was also playing well against UConn before the late turnover changed the game.
Then there’s Deron Rippey Jr., the 5-star freshman who should bring burst off the bench. That gives Scheyer a guard rotation with talent, depth and scoring punch.
And it’s not just the guards. Dame Sarr is back on the wing and looks poised for a bigger role in his second year on campus. The frontcourt brings Ngongba together with two more 5-star freshmen, Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Cameron Williams.
Put it all together, and this looks like the deepest roster Scheyer has assembled in Durham. Blackwell’s arrival may be the move that changes the equation, giving Duke the kind of backcourt star power that can swing March in its favor.
In Other News...
Dukes Rebuilt Defense Faces A Camp Test That Could Define 2025
Last seasons defensive numbers left Duke with no margin for comfort, and if the Blue Devils are going to stay in the College Football Playoff conversation, the rebuilt front has to come together quickly. The departure of key pieces up front and on the back end has turned training camp into an extended audition, with the coaching staff sorting through a group that includes Bryce Davis, Owen Wafle, DaShawn Stone, Andrew Pelicciotta, Patrick Smith-Young, Che Ojarikre and Kaleb Lanier.
The challenge is bigger than simply replacing names on a depth chart. Duke needs more disruption, more stability and a unit that can hold up against higher-level opponents, which makes every rep in camp matter for a defense trying to change its identity. How well those new pieces settle into their roles may end up shaping not just the start of the season, but whether this group can push the program where it wants to go in 2025. [Read more 🡒]
Duke May Be Catching A Crucial Break Before Its First Test
Dukes first real test of the season may have gotten a little easier before kickoff. Tulane could be without running back Jamauri McClure for the opener because of a left foot injury, a notable twist for a Green Wave offense that was already leaning on a rebuilt backfield after bringing in several veteran runners through the transfer portal.
For Duke, any edge matters in a debut that will say plenty about where Manny Diazs team stands right away. The Blue Devils are sorting through new starting quarterback options and some defensive questions, so the matchup was going to demand a clean start even before Tulanes injury situation entered the picture. Losing a proven runner from the other side would not settle anything on its own, but it could change the shape of a game that already feels revealing for both programs. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Secondary Battle Could Define Manny Diaz's Defensive Rebuild
Dukes pass defense was a problem area last season, finishing near the bottom of the FBS and giving up nearly 277 passing yards per game, so Manny Diaz went into the offseason treating the secondary like an open competition instead of a unit with any established order. He has brought in several transfer players to push for cornerback and safety roles, giving the Blue Devils a chance to reshape a group that needs a cleaner start if the defense is going to take a step forward.
The bigger picture is that the rebuild will not be instant, and Diaz has already acknowledged there will be growing pains as the staff sorts through the mix before the opener against Tulane. For Duke, the question is not simply who plays, but how quickly the secondary can settle enough to look dependable in a league where pass defense can turn a season fast. [Read more 🡒]