{"id":79831,"date":"2026-04-11T21:32:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T21:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isport.com.ng\/?p=79831"},"modified":"2026-04-11T21:32:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T21:32:36","slug":"duke-closing-in-on-elite-transfer-portal-guard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isport.com.ng\/?p=79831","title":{"rendered":"Duke Closing In on Elite Transfer Portal Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"

Duke Closing In on Elite Transfer Portal Guard<\/h1>\n
Duke could be making its first transfer portal splash shortly.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
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Things are getting serious in Durham.<\/p>\n

Over the last day or so, major reports have been released regarding the\u00a0Duke<\/u><\/a>\u00a0basketball program and its interest in some of the top portal recruits. On Friday, it was reported that Duke would host Kansas transfer center\u00a0Flory Bidunga<\/u><\/a>\u00a0for a visit this weekend.<\/p>\n

So far, the\u00a0Blue Devils<\/u><\/a>\u00a0have lost sophomore Darren Harris and rookie Nik Khamenia to the transfer portal, leaving several key players with major decisions to make about their futures.<\/p>\n

Duke will lose Maliq Brown (graduation) and, in all likelihood, Cameron Boozer (NBA Draft). However, guys such as Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba, Dame Sarr, Cayden Boozer, and Caleb Foster all have tough decisions to weigh.<\/p>\n

Obviously, which of these rotation pieces from the 2025-26 squad return to Durham next season will play a major role in who Jon Scheyer and his staff target in the portal. Still with so much unknown around the program, the Blue Devils have emerged as serious contenders for a few portal pieces. One stellar guard could be making his way to Durham soon.<\/p>\n

Wisconsin Transfer Guard John Blackwell Includes Duke in Final Two Schools<\/h2>\n

John Blackwell, the No. 2 overall player in the transfer portal, according to\u00a0247Sports,<\/u><\/a>\u00a0is down to Duke and Illinois in his recruitment. This is obviously a massive boost for the Duke program.<\/p>\n

Blackwell has spent all three seasons of his collegiate career with the Badgers, and he broke onto the scene as one of college basketball’s best scorers in 2025-26. The 6’4″ guard averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists a night on 43.0% shooting from the field and 38.9% shooting from three-point range on 7.3 attempts a contest.<\/p>\n

Through the 2025-26 campaign, Blackwell tallied over 20 points in 15 games and scored over 30 in five. He went for over 30 in two straight outings in the Big Ten Tournament, against Washington and Illinois, respectively.<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n
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Blackwell Hinted at Desire To Play at Duke<\/h2>\n

When Blackwell entered the portal, he explained his main motivations were to compete for a national title and develop his skills for the NBA. What better program to do that at than Duke?<\/p>\n

“It’s a tough decision,”\u00a0Blackwell told ESPN.<\/u><\/a> “I’m looking for a place where I can enhance my skills for the NBA and a place where I can compete for a national championship. A place where that’s the standard and what we’re striving for.”<\/p>\n

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With the Blue Devils as one of two finalists for the portal’s top backcourt piece, time will tell if they can secure him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Duke Closing In on Elite Transfer Portal Guard Duke could be making its first transfer portal splash shortly. Things are getting serious in Durham. 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