What happened at Duke just now? An explanation of the post-portal power shift The Duke Blue Devils are undergoing a significant makeover for the 2025–2026 collegiate basketball season, bringing in one of the nation’s top recruiting classes.

In the chaotic whirlwind that defines the modern college basketball offseason, few programs have leaned into the madness quite like the Duke Blue Devils. The post-portal era has fully arrived in Durham, where Jon Scheyer, now firmly entrenched in his head coaching role, has orchestrated one of the most significant roster overhauls in school history. What emerged from the rubble of a mass exodus is a reloaded and reimagined team—one that blends blue-chip freshmen, high-IQ transfers, and program veterans into a dangerous cocktail of promise and unpredictability.

Duke’s offseason began not with quiet preparation but a thunderclap of departures. By late April, no fewer than seven scholarship players had entered the transfer portal. Among them were notable names like:

Jeremy Roach, a multi-year starter and floor general, who opted for Baylor.
Mark Mitchell, a versatile forward now bound for Missouri.
Sean Stewart, a highly-touted freshman heading to Ohio State.
TJ Power, a stretch-four talent, now at Virginia.
Christian Reeves, Jaylen Blakes, and Jaden Schutt, each seeking opportunity elsewhere.

In addition, two cornerstones of the 2024–25 campaign—Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain—declared for the NBA Draft, while Ryan Young graduated. When the dust settled, only two scholarship players returned: Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster.

Scheyer was staring down a nearly empty locker room. But he wasn’t panicking.

He was planning.

In this new era, the NCAA transfer portal isn’t just a lifeline—it’s an arms race. With his roster gutted, Scheyer hit the portal with urgency, but not desperation. He knew what he wanted: players who would complement a freshman-heavy nucleus without demanding a system overhaul.

Enter the new blood:

Maliq Brown (Syracuse): At 6’8″, Brown led the ACC in steals and brings tenacious on-ball defense and a rebounding edge that was often missing from last year’s team.
Sion James (Tulane): A gritty, multi-positional guard known for leadership and versatility. James is expected to be the locker-room glue.
Mason Gillis (Purdue): The oldest player on the team, Gillis is a knockdown shooter and cerebral forward with Final Four experience under Matt Painter.
Ifeanyi Ufochukwu (Rice): A 6’11” big man with shot-blocking instincts and rebounding polish. He’s projected to provide crucial rim protection.
Jack Scott (Princeton): An under-the-radar pickup, Scott is a coach’s dream: fundamentally sound, disciplined, and team-first.

Each of these transfers isn’t just a body. They represent an effort by Scheyer to balance elite youth with time-tested college experience. In short, Duke doesn’t want to rebuild—they want to reload.

While the transfer portal additions add depth and maturity, the heart of Duke’s resurgence lies in arguably the best recruiting class in the country. This class is headlined by a generational prospect whose decision to don Duke blue sent shockwaves through the sport.

There’s no other way to put it: Cooper Flagg is the most hyped Duke recruit since Zion Williamson. At 6’9″ with guard skills, elite defense, and freakish basketball instincts, Flagg has already been compared to Luka Dončić, Kevin Durant, and Scottie Pippen in different corners of NBA scouting circles.

His freshman year will likely be his only one, and Duke’s national title hopes may ride on his shoulders.

Sons of Duke legend Carlos Boozer, Cameron and Cayden Boozer bring more than just pedigree. Cameron, a 6’9″ forward, is a physical post presence with elite footwork and rebounding ability. Cayden, a smooth point guard, offers high-IQ passing and perimeter polish.

Together, they bring chemistry honed from a lifetime of playing together and the competitive fire of siblings who have something to prove.

The Supporting Cast

Isaiah Evans: A scoring wing who averaged 35 points per game in high school and has drawn comparisons to Brandon Ingram.
Kon Knueppel: A 6’6″ sharpshooter and one of the best pure scorers in the country.
Darren Harris: A heady, high-energy guard from Paul VI, known for his toughness and shooting.
Patrick Ngongba II: A 6’11” center who may redshirt or rotate in depending on Ufochukwu’s development.
Nikola Khamenia: A Serbian-born 7-footer with stretch capability and international polish.

It’s an embarrassment of riches. But it also presents a challenge: managing egos, rotations, and expectations.

Of all the twists in Duke’s offseason, perhaps the most crucial is Tyrese Proctor’s return. After testing the NBA waters, Proctor elected to come back for a junior campaign. The Australian guard has been uneven at times, but when healthy, he’s shown flashes of brilliance as both a facilitator and shot-maker.

Proctor’s presence offers two invaluable things: continuity and leadership.

Caleb Foster, meanwhile, had a strong freshman season and could be a breakout candidate. His ability to play both guard spots makes him a key cog in what could be one of the deepest backcourts in college basketball.

For Jon Scheyer, the 2025–26 season is more than a personnel experiment—it’s a referendum on his system and vision.

His first few years were marked by mixed results: tournament flashes and some big wins, but also frustrating inconsistency and early March exits. With Mike Krzyzewski’s shadow slowly receding, Scheyer must now prove that he can win it all—and do it his way.

By pairing one-and-done freshmen with portal-tested vets, Scheyer is betting on adaptability over continuity. He’s hoping that positional flexibility and raw talent can overcome the lack of returning core players. He’s also leaning into modern basketball: switchable defenders, spread offenses, and hybrid forwards.

While training camp and exhibitions will iron out roles, here’s an early look at a potential rotation:

Starting Five:

PG: Tyrese Proctor – Veteran playmaker and tone-setter.
SG: Cayden Boozer – Facilitator and secondary ball handler.
SF: Cooper Flagg – The face of the program.
PF: Cameron Boozer – Physical interior anchor.
C: Maliq Brown – Defensive leader and rebounder.

Key Bench Contributors:

Caleb Foster – Sixth man scorer and spark plug.
Mason Gillis – Stretch-four sharpshooter.
Sion James – Defensive stopper and combo guard.
Nikola Khamenia / Ngongba II / Ufochukwu – Rotating bigs for matchup flexibility.
Evans / Knueppel / Harris – Wing rotation options depending on opponent.

This kind of depth—10+ players capable of significant minutes—is rare, even for elite programs. How Scheyer manages it may determine Duke’s ceiling.

For most programs, simply making the NCAA Tournament is enough. For Duke, success is measured in banners and Final Fours.

With this roster, anything short of a deep March run will feel underwhelming. Yet it’s also fair to recognize the volatility of such a young and reassembled team. Even with a top-ranked recruiting class and elite transfers, chemistry is fragile.

Duke fans should watch for early tests in non-conference play and how well the team handles adversity. If they can stay healthy, gel early, and develop a clear identity, the 2025–26 squad could be the one that returns Duke to national championship contention.

Whether this grand experiment works or falters, what Scheyer is doing in Durham could set the blueprint for college basketball’s future. A mix of five-star freshmen, high-character transfers, and strategic returning players may be the formula that others mimic in an age of free movement and NIL influence.