Duke Basketball Prepares for a New Era
Duke University's men's basketball program is gearing up for the 2026‑27 season after capturing the 2025‑26 ACC title and reaching the Elite Eight. The Blue Devils will bring back five key contributors from that championship roster while integrating a highly touted recruiting class and three impactful transfers.
The returning core includes Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer, Sebastian Wilkins, Patrick Ngongba II and Dame Sarr, all of whom played pivotal roles in the recent title run. Head coach Jon Scheyer, now in his fifth year, will look to build on the momentum generated by those veterans.
Duke's draft pipeline also proved productive, with three players — Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans and Maliq Brown — selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, underscoring the program's talent development.
The roster will also see departures, as Darren Harris and Nik Khamenia have transferred out of the program, opening scholarships for new additions.
The incoming class is ranked second nationally among recruiting groups, featuring top prospects such as power forward Cameron Williams, the fourth‑best player in the 2026 class according to the 247Sports Composite.
Among the transfers, John Blackwell arrives from Wisconsin, where he averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in his final season. Drew Scharnowski, a Belmont alum, earned First‑Team, All‑Defensive and Most‑Improved honors in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Jacob Theodosiou from Loyola Maryland contributed 13.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists last year.
The newcomers also include Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, a 17‑year‑old from Spain standing 7‑foot‑2 and weighing 230 pounds, and Deron Rippey Jr., the top‑ranked point guard from New Jersey who is listed No. 12 overall in the composite rankings. Bryson Howard, son of former NBA All‑Star Josh Howard, is projected as the No. 4 shooting guard and the No. 23 player nationally, while Maxime Meyer, a 7‑foot‑1 Canadian center, sits at No. 18 among centers.
With a blend of seasoned returnees, proven transfers and elite freshmen, Duke aims to defend its ACC crown and make a deep run in the NCAA tournament next season.