A new era in college basketball has begun.
With the advent of one-and-done rules over the past 20 years, Duke fans have grown accustomed to some extreme roster turnover; however, with the transfer portal, every team now turns over a new leaf annually.
In his first full offseason, head coach Jon Scheyer played it safe, keeping all five of Duke’s starters from 2023–24 who began their careers with the Blue Devils. Will he be as successful at keeping his best players in Durham in 2024–2025? We’ll see if he sticks with homegrown starters or if he uses the portal this time.
The top players from Duke’s season are shown here, along with our predictions for
Of the guys who could go, this is probably the one that is easiest to decide. After averaging more than 16 points and eight rebounds per game this season, the 7-foot sophomore guard was selected to the Second Team All-American. His combination of size and passing ability makes him an intriguing prospect. Over the last two months, he has been projected as a lottery pick in the majority of NBA mock drafts, with many having him inside the top 10. He returned to Durham for a second season, doubling down on himself, and he performed well enough to make the investment worthwhile.
There are a few guys who could leave, and this is probably the easiest one to decide. This season, the 7-foot sophomore guard averaged over 16 points and 8 rebounds per game, earning him a spot on the Second Team All-American. With his combination of size and passing ability, he has been a projected lottery pick in the majority of NBA mock drafts conducted over the past two months, with many placing him inside the top 10. He is an intriguing prospect. Returning to Durham for a second season was a calculated risk, but one that was rewarded by his performance.
