The Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball program finds itself in a precarious position this offseason, one rarely seen in the modern era of college hoops. With multiple players testing the NBA Draft waters while also preserving their collegiate eligibility, head coach Jon Scheyer is navigating a high-wire act with scholarship limits, portal targets, and one of the most talented incoming freshman classes in the country.
At the heart of this issue? Combine invitations and the unpredictable ripple effect they’re having on the Blue Devils’ roster construction.
The 2024 NBA Draft Combine list included three key Duke players: Kyle Filipowski, Jared McCain, and Tyrese Proctor. All three declared for the draft but left the door open for a potential return. Their decisions are crucial — not just for Duke’s competitive hopes, but for practical reasons like scholarship distribution and recruiting strategy.
Filipowski, a two-time All-ACC performer, has long been projected as a fringe first-round pick. He was a force on both ends this season, averaging 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and over a block per game. Still, scouts remain split on how well his game translates to the NBA level, particularly given his average lateral quickness and questions about his three-point shot consistency.
McCain, meanwhile, skyrocketed up draft boards late in the year with elite shooting performances and strong showings in the NCAA Tournament. Some scouts see him as a potential lottery pick due to his charisma, toughness, and microwave scoring ability. He’s the most likely of the trio to remain in the draft.
Proctor is perhaps the biggest wild card. The sophomore point guard came into the season with lottery hype but had an up-and-down campaign due to injury and inconsistent shooting. Still, he’s a long, switchable guard with clear NBA tools. Some evaluators think another year in college could boost his stock; others believe teams will invest now in his upside.
If all three stay in the draft, Duke can aggressively pursue veteran players in the portal. If one or more return, it reshapes the rotation — and the scholarship crunch gets real.
At present, Duke has 11 scholarship players confirmed for 2024-25. That number includes four incoming five-star freshmen: Cooper Flagg, Isaiah Evans, Khaman Maluach (should he reclassify), and Kon Knueppel. It also includes holdovers like Caleb Foster, Sean Stewart, and Christian Reeves.
If just one of the draft-eligible trio returns, that number balloons to 12. If all three return, it’s 14 — one over the NCAA’s scholarship limit of 13. And that’s without factoring in any potential portal additions or late surprises from the high school class.
Scheyer is in a bind. He can’t fill the last scholarship spot until he knows what Proctor, McCain, and Filipowski will do. But the NBA Combine doesn’t take place until May 12–19, with the withdrawal deadline set for May 29. That leaves Duke in a holding pattern well into the summer portal cycle, while other programs aggressively retool.
This isn’t just an academic problem. Duke has been linked to several transfer targets, including bigs and veteran guards who could plug real needs. But with no guarantees of available spots, those players are unlikely to wait for Duke to sort out its roster — not when other blue-bloods and contenders are offering immediate playing time and clarity.
Adding to the complexity — but in a good way — is the arrival of Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2024 class and the presumed next face of college basketball. Flagg is a transcendent talent, drawing comparisons to Anthony Davis for his two-way versatility and motor. He will start from Day 1 and could dominate ACC play.
But his presence also demands spacing and touches. That means the returning veterans and incoming freshmen need to be roster fits — not just names. Having too many high-usage wings or redundant skill sets could limit both Flagg and the team.
This makes every roster decision — from who returns to who transfers in — critical. Duke can’t afford luxury pieces or depth signings that don’t make sense within the new Flagg-centric ecosystem.
One underrated factor that could affect the rotation: the expected return of big man Christian Reeves and forward Sean Stewart. Reeves missed most of the 2023-24 season due to injury but was once viewed as a long-term developmental center. Stewart flashed defensive upside and elite rebounding in limited minutes.
If Filipowski and Maluach both don’t play for Duke next year, Stewart and Reeves could see major frontcourt minutes. That raises the stakes on decisions made in the next month. Duke could be one return away from having a logjam… or one departure away from needing another rim protector in the portal.
Even in the shadow of combine drama, Duke has reached out to several high-profile transfer players. Among them: veteran point guards, shooters, and stretch forwards who could offer experience and complementary skill sets to Flagg and the younger core.
But Duke’s portal pitch is murky. Unlike programs that can promise starting roles or specific minutes, Scheyer’s staff must hedge. They’re reportedly being honest with transfers: “We want you, but we might not have a spot depending on who comes back.”
For many players in the portal, especially those nearing the end of their eligibility, that’s a tough sell. Portal recruiting is fast-paced and competitive — waiting on Duke could cost players valuable opportunities elsewhere.
This isn’t the first time Duke has been caught in offseason limbo. In 2018, the Blue Devils waited on decisions from Trevon Duval and Gary Trent Jr., which impacted their ability to add shooters. In 2021, uncertainty around Matthew Hurt and DJ Steward complicated the transition to the Jon Scheyer era.
But this year feels different because of the potential impact of Flagg and the number of simultaneous decisions. No previous Duke team has had three possible NBA departures paired with four elite freshmen — and still looked to be active in the portal.
The margin for error is thin. Miscalculate on one front, and Duke could be left short on shooting, rim protection, or guard depth. Overcommit, and someone may have to be nudged out of the program — a scenario Duke typically avoids.
The next few weeks are critical. Combine performances will influence who stays in the draft. Filipowski, McCain, and Proctor will get feedback from NBA executives and agents. If two or more earn second-round guarantees or strong first-round buzz, the decisions may make themselves.
Meanwhile, Duke’s coaching staff must remain in constant communication with targets and their own players. How they manage those conversations — with transparency, vision, and flexibility — could determine whether Duke enters 2024-25 as the national title favorite or as a young team still searching for cohesion.
Scheyer has navigated difficult offseasons before. He kept most of his core intact after the 2022-23 season, turning a young team into a Sweet 16 contender. Now, he must thread the needle even tighter — ensuring that Duke’s next great team isn’t accidentally undercut by a few unpredictable decisions.
Roster ambiguity is the new norm in college basketball, especially with the NBA’s draft rules and the one-time transfer rule. But even in this age of fluidity, Duke’s current situation is unusually complex.
There is a version of the 2024-25 roster that includes McCain and Proctor feeding Flagg for alley-oops, Filipowski anchoring the frontcourt, and a deep bench of blue-chip talent. That team could be cutting down nets.
There’s another version that sees all three NBA hopefuls leave, forcing freshmen and second-year players into oversized roles and creating pressure to win immediately with youth.
Then there’s the most likely scenario: a mixed bag, with Duke making key portal moves, welcoming back one NBA hopeful, and recalibrating around Flagg.
However it unfolds, one thing is clear: combine invites may be good for player development and exposure — but for Duke basketball, they’ve turned this offseason into a delicate balancing act with championship implications.
