Predicting the 2025-26 Duke basketball starting five after recent commitments

Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball coach Jon Scheyer and his staff have gained players and lost others over the last few months, but with May ready to draw to a close, the 2025-26 roster finally looks set in stone.

Washington State transfer Cedric Coward committed to the program earlier this offseason, but he declared for the 2025 NBA draft when he first entered the portal and remained in the process after his decision. Scouts and analysts sound infatuated with his size and shooting numbers after the combine, and with his stock creeping closer and closer to the first round, it seems less and less likely that the Cameron Crazies will ever watch him play in person.

With Coward’s decision now somewhat obvious, the Blue Devils needed more reinforcements, and Scheyer found them in the form of blue-chip prospects Dame Sarr and Sebastian Wilkins. The four-star talents committed to Duke on Thursday and Friday, respectively, to increase the program’s incoming freshman class to five members as the Blue Devils continue to dominate the recruiting trail.

With Sarr and Wilkins now in the mix instead of Coward, here’s an updated look at Duke’s potential starting five for the 2025-26 season.

Foster will take Tyrese Proctor’s mantle as the program’s only third-year member in 2025-26, and his decision to remain in Durham should make him a favorite for the point guard spot. He began his sophomore season in the starting lineup before an early slump limited his playing time, but he seemingly found something late with four double-digit scoring performances in his last 14 games. The Blue Devils have plenty of shooters on next year’s roster, but outside of four-star freshman Cayden Boozer, Foster won’t have much competition as the team’s primary ball-handler.

The Blue Devils’ best bench weapon in 2024-25, Evans averaged 6.8 points in 13.7 minutes per game last season thanks to a 41.6% 3-point percentage. He made six first-half triples against the Auburn Tigers in December and went on a run of four consecutive games with at least 16 points at the end of February. With another year to grow into his 6-foot-6-inch frame, he should be a threat to lead the ACC in scoring (if one of his teammates doesn’t take the volume instead).