**“Too Good to Keep on the Bench? Duke’s Summer Practices Create Rotation Chaos for Jon Scheyer — Veterans Locked In, Freshmen Dominating, and No Clear Starting Five in Sight”**
The echoes of bouncing basketballs and squeaking sneakers are back in Cameron Indoor, and with them comes something Duke fans both crave and fear—uncertainty. Not the kind that signals weakness or underperformance, but the kind that comes when every player on the floor is performing like a starter. Duke’s summer practices have become a crucible of talent, energy, and mounting expectations. Veterans have returned sharper, hungrier, and more vocal. Freshmen are putting on performances that make you do a double take. Transfers are fitting in seamlessly, showing leadership, grit, and flashes of brilliance. All of this has created a “good problem” for Jon Scheyer, but a problem nonetheless—who starts?
On paper, Duke looks as loaded as any team in the country. And in these early practices, that depth is turning into a daily battle royale. Every possession is fought over, every drill turns into a statement, and every player knows that there are no guarantees when it comes to the starting five. The result? A rotation that looks as wide open as ever, with as many as ten players making strong cases for major minutes—and a handful demanding to start.
Let’s start with the returners. Tyrese Proctor has taken on the summer like someone with unfinished business. The junior guard, once projected as a one-and-done, has evolved into a mature, steadying presence. He’s commanding the offense with poise, knocking down shots with confidence, and visibly taking on a leadership role. More than that, he looks like a floor general in every sense. Scheyer wanted growth from his older players, and Proctor is delivering in a big way. Then there’s Mark Mitchell, who appears leaner, more agile, and even more locked in defensively. He’s making his case on both ends, especially with his versatility to guard multiple positions. In scrimmages, Mitchell has shown an ability to switch seamlessly between defending wings and bigs, something that could make him indispensable in a starting unit. And don’t forget about Caleb Foster, whose ball-handling, shot creation, and improved decision-making are turning heads. He might be the most improved player in Durham this summer, and he knows it.
But the veterans aren’t the only ones putting pressure on the staff. Duke’s incoming freshman class might be the best in the country—and they’re already living up to the hype. Few names are generating more buzz than Dame Sarr. The 6-foot-6 guard has quickly become the name on everyone’s lips. His ability to create off the dribble, knock down shots from deep, and defend multiple positions is turning practice into his personal highlight reel. Coaches and teammates alike are reportedly raving about his maturity, confidence, and impact. “He just gets it,” one observer noted. There’s a growing belief that Scheyer won’t be able to keep him out of the starting five. That’s how dominant he’s been.
Cooper Flagg, of course, is the name that drew headlines the moment he committed to Duke. And true to form, the freshman phenom has not disappointed. Flagg is everywhere—blocking shots, running the break, finding open shooters, and taking over stretches of practice with a competitive fire that reminds many of the Blue Devils’ greatest. He’s vocal, physical, and unafraid. He’s also shown flashes of being Duke’s most impactful two-way player from day one. If Scheyer is building a lineup with defense in mind, Flagg almost certainly has to start. He may also be Duke’s best rebounder already, an area where the team struggled at times last season.
Another freshman making serious noise is Khaman Maluach. The towering 7-footer is a defensive anchor in the paint, altering everything inside and flashing soft touch on the offensive end. His instincts are elite, and he’s adjusting to the speed of the college game faster than expected. Pairing him with Flagg would give Duke a terrifying defensive frontcourt. Add the long arms and instincts of Mitchell, and it becomes clear that Scheyer could field a lineup that suffocates teams with length and switchability. But therein lies the problem—Maluach’s emergence makes it harder to justify starting more experienced bigs who aren’t showing the same ceiling.
That brings us to the transfers, particularly Maliq Brown from Syracuse. Brown has wasted no time carving out a role in this ultra-competitive environment. His defensive motor is relentless. He talks nonstop on the floor, he boxes out with discipline, and he moves his feet like a guard. What he lacks in elite offensive polish, he more than makes up for with energy and leadership. Coaches are already saying his presence is changing the culture defensively. He’s not just a glue guy—he’s a tone-setter. Whether he starts or not, he’ll be on the floor when it matters.
With all these players performing at such a high level, it’s easy to see how Scheyer’s rotation is becoming a maze. There’s no obvious odd man out. Jared McCain, the sharpshooting sophomore, is also putting in the work and looking more comfortable playing off the ball. His floor spacing is crucial for any lineup involving Flagg or Maluach. Jeremy Roach may have moved on, but this backcourt still looks deadly—maybe even deeper. Jaden Schutt, after struggling for minutes in past seasons, has also quietly improved. He’s shooting it lights-out in practice and has finally added the physical strength to compete defensively. If the goal is to stretch the floor, Schutt might sneak into the rotation and be a major contributor.
What’s striking about these practices is the level of intensity. These players aren’t just going through the motions. Every session feels like a proving ground. Proctor knows he has to lead. McCain knows he must shoot. Flagg knows he’s expected to be great. Sarr wants to leave no doubt. There’s hunger all over this roster, and that energy is contagious. From the moment warmups begin, there’s a seriousness to the work. Scheyer, for his part, is embracing the challenge. He’s constantly adjusting lineups, mixing vets with newcomers, testing different defensive looks, and putting players in uncomfortable situations. “We want to be uncomfortable now, so we’re confident later,” one staff member reportedly told a booster.
Even those on the fringe are making their cases. Sean Stewart has improved his footwork and is giving Duke quality depth in the frontcourt. He might not start, but he’s pushing everyone around him to be better. TJ Power, another sophomore forward, has shown flashes of elite vision and a high IQ in half-court sets. On a different roster, both could be starting. Here, they’re battling every day just to crack the rotation.
And that’s what makes this version of Duke so intriguing. There’s no drop-off. Second units in practice are beating the starters. Third units are stealing reps. This isn’t a rebuild—it’s a reload with more weapons than ever. Scheyer isn’t dealing with a lack of options. He’s dealing with too many. How do you reward Proctor’s leadership while also unleashing Sarr? How do you develop Flagg’s sky-high ceiling without stunting Mitchell’s growth? Can Maluach and Brown share the floor, or does one give way to more spacing? These are questions without easy answers—and that’s the beauty of it.
For fans, the guessing game has become a summer obsession. Message boards are flooded with projected lineups. Everyone has a favorite five. Some want Proctor and McCain in the backcourt with Flagg, Mitchell, and Maluach up front. Others push for Sarr to start at the two, with Proctor shifting off the ball and Brown anchoring the paint. A few are even advocating for a small-ball lineup, featuring Flagg at the five and surrounding him with shooters. There’s no wrong answer yet—and that’s what’s driving the excitement.
The bigger picture is even more promising. Depth means Duke can weather injuries, stay fresh deep into March, and throw wave after wave of talent at opponents. Scheyer is building not just a team, but a culture where iron sharpens iron. Practices are competitive because they have to be. If you don’t bring it, someone else will take your spot. If you don’t defend, you sit. If you don’t lead, someone else steps up. That kind of accountability will pay off when the lights come on in the ACC.
For now, though, it’s all still being figured out. The scrimmages will continue. The rotation will evolve. And the lineup decisions will only get harder. But if the early signs are any indication, this is a Duke team that won’t lack talent, toughness, or togetherness. They’re too good to keep on the bench—but only five can start. That’s the puzzle Scheyer faces. And it’s one every coach in the country wishes they had.
