Duke’s 2027 board is already taking shape, and Jon Scheyer keeps stacking names that fit the Blue Devils’ usual recruiting profile: size, skill, and plenty of upside.
The only commitment in the class so far is Kager Knueppel, the 6-foot-10 wing who has become one of the biggest risers in the cycle. He’s now ranked No. 22 overall, No. 2 among power forwards, and No. 2 in Wisconsin by the 247Sports 2027 Composite.
Kager brings shooting touch that looks familiar to Duke fans, but he comes in a different package than his older brother Kon at 6'10" and 225 pounds. There’s still room for his frame and all-around game to expand, and if the defensive versatility comes along with the shot already in place, he has a real NBA path.
At Peach Jam with Team Herro, he hit 45% from three on 5.7 attempts per game.
The headliner among Duke’s offered targets is Beckham Black, a 6'3" five-star who sits No. 2 overall in the class. He already has a packed offer sheet and is set for an official visit to Texas on Sep.
- Black has shown real scoring and passing pop on both the FIBA and Nike EYBL circuits, and he was also on the same Team USA gold medal team as Duke rookie Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje at the FIBA U17 Men's World Cup.
There, Black put up 12.3 points and 8.3 assists per game. He was even more explosive with AB Elite at Peach Jam, averaging 24.2 points and 5.3 assists across six games.
Adan Diggs is another name on the list, though the buzz around him and Duke hasn’t been as loud. The 6'4" guard is ranked No. 5 overall and No. 1 at combo guard.
Duke offered him in late June, but his recruitment has been quieter than some of the others. Like Black, his future will be worth watching closely under the NCAA’s new age-based eligibility model.
AJ Williams adds another layer to the class conversation. He was originally the top player in 2028 before reclassifying into 2027, though his situation is different from Marcus Spears Jr.’s because Williams remains age-eligible for the 2028 NBA Draft and would only need one year in college.
The 6'8" wing is now ranked No. 4 in the class and could still climb higher. Duke has been tied to him for a while, and his production in the U17 Peach Jam made the move up look justified.
With Team CP3, he averaged 23 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field and 34.6% from three.
Lewis Uvwo may be the most eye-catching interior target on Duke’s list. The 6'10", 225-pound center is now the No. 7 player in the class and the top center in the country.
He has only been playing basketball for about three years, but his shot-blocking has already turned heads. Uvwo owns a massive 7'7" wingspan and averaged six blocks per game at Peach Jam with Nightrydas, including 10 against Team Herro and nine against Drive Nation.
Duke also offered Asa Montgomery on Aug. 12.
The 6'7" small forward is ranked No. 28 overall and brings defensive intrigue after his run with Team USA at the FIBA U17 World Cup. Playing 17.0 minutes per game, Montgomery averaged 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, while also contributing over a steal per game.
The 6'8" wing has clear two-way promise.
The newest name in the mix is Deng Ngor, who is set for an official visit to Duke on Oct. 15.
The 6'8", 200-pound power forward is ranked No. 80 overall and No. 12 at his position. He’s also the only player on this list who has not been reported to have a Duke offer.
Ngor helped Team Canada win the FIBA U18 AmeriCup title over Team USA this summer, averaging 10.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 50% from the field and 37.5% from three in five games.
In Other News...
Cam Williams Faces Early Doubts Before His First Duke Season
Cam Williams arrives at Duke with the sort of rsum that usually comes with instant buzz, as a five-star recruit and the top-ranked power forward in the 2026 signing class. That alone would make him a major part of the Blue Devils future plans, but his freshman season also comes with the usual expectations that follow elite newcomers to Durham, where development and draft talk tend to go hand in hand.
Still, not everyone is sold on the early NBA hype. One analyst has already raised questions about Williams defense and consistency, enough to project him outside the top-10 picks in the 2027 NBA Draft. For Duke, that only adds another layer to his first season, with a full year ahead for Williams to sharpen his game and alter the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Walker Eget Could Decide How High Dukes Offense Can Climb
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Eget brings experience and plenty of college snaps, but the evaluation is still unfinished as the staff sorts through the spring and summer picture. Manny Diaz has kept the competition open with redshirt freshman Dan Mahan, which means Duke is not simply choosing a replacement but deciding what kind of ceiling it can chase on offense. For a program trying to build on recent momentum, the answer could shape how high this group can climb. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Special Teams Could Decide More Than Fans Realize Early On
Special teams are getting a fresh look for Duke as the season opener against Tulane approaches, with Cosme Salas stepping in as the primary field goal kicker after Todd Pelino. Kade Reynoldson is back in his role as the starting punter, while Jayden Moore is lined up to handle both punt and kickoff returns, giving the Blue Devils a fairly clear picture of who will be responsible for the hidden-yardage battle.
For a game like this, those roles can matter more than most people realize, especially early in the year when field position and clean operation often tilt close matchups. Duke does not need special teams to steal the spotlight, but it does need that unit to be steady, and the alignment against Tulane offers an early test of how smoothly the Blue Devils can execute in the kicking game. [Read more 🡒]