Projected Duke Basketball Starting Five for 2025-26 Season Features Only Two Newcomers as Familiar Faces Lead the Way

The Duke Blue Devils are preparing for the 2025-26 men’s basketball season with high expectations, and this time, experience could finally be their most significant advantage. In a college basketball landscape often dominated by freshmen phenoms and short-lived rosters, Duke’s projected starting five offers a refreshing level of continuity. Head coach Jon Scheyer, entering his fourth season at the helm, will likely field a lineup featuring just two newcomers, with three returning players poised to provide much-needed leadership and chemistry from day one.

The Blue Devils’ offseason has seen its fair share of roster movement, including transfers, NBA departures, and fresh talent arriving from the recruiting trail. But when the dust settled, Duke found itself with an enviable blend of veteran experience and high-upside newcomers. The combination should not only solidify their status as a preseason top-five team but also offer them the stability to compete for both an ACC title and a national championship.

Let’s take a closer look at the projected starting five and why only two new faces cracking the lineup speaks volumes about Duke’s depth, development, and evolving program identity under Scheyer.

At the heart of this lineup is sophomore guard Caleb Foster, one of the most dynamic young guards in the nation. Foster showed flashes of brilliance as a freshman, despite battling inconsistency at times in a loaded Blue Devils rotation. Now, with another year of seasoning, he’s expected to take full control of the offense as the starting point guard. His court vision, ability to push tempo, and defensive intensity have all improved, and insiders close to the program believe he’s ready for the leap from contributor to team leader.

In the backcourt alongside Foster is Tyrese Proctor, the veteran Australian guard who has become synonymous with Duke’s steady rise over the last two seasons. Proctor surprised some by opting to return for his junior year, passing on the NBA Draft to refine his game further and chase collegiate glory. His ability to score at all three levels, facilitate for teammates, and lock down opposing guards makes him invaluable. His leadership, especially in high-pressure ACC and NCAA Tournament environments, gives Duke an edge that young, one-and-done-laden teams often lack.

The frontcourt features perhaps the most anticipated returning player for the Blue Devils in Mark Mitchell. The versatile forward, now entering his junior campaign, is the prototypical modern wing—capable of defending multiple positions, knocking down outside shots, and attacking the rim with athleticism. Mitchell’s development over the past two seasons has been steady, and many around the program expect this to be his breakout year, where he could push for All-ACC honors and NBA Draft consideration.

Those three returning starters form the foundation of the 2025-26 Duke squad. But the two newcomers projected to round out the starting five might be the pieces that elevate this group from ACC contender to national championship favorite.

First is incoming freshman Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class and arguably the most hyped Duke recruit since Zion Williamson. Flagg’s high school career at Montverde Academy was the stuff of legend—highlight-reel dunks, dominant defensive performances, and a motor that never stops running. His versatility allows him to slide seamlessly into Duke’s system, likely occupying the power forward role but capable of playing virtually any position on the floor depending on matchups.

Flagg is expected to be an immediate impact player on both ends. His ability to stretch the floor offensively with his shooting, combined with elite rebounding and defensive instincts, makes him one of the most complete freshmen in recent memory. More importantly, Flagg joins a lineup that doesn’t require him to carry the entire load from day one—a luxury rarely afforded to top-ranked recruits. Surrounded by seasoned teammates, he can grow into his role without the pressure of having to be the savior overnight.

The final starting spot is projected to go to transfer center Jonas Aidoo, who arrives from Tennessee with a reputation as one of the premier defensive big men in college basketball. Aidoo’s decision to transfer shocked many, but his desire to expand his offensive game and compete at the highest level led him to Durham. At 7 feet tall with a 7-foot-5 wingspan, Aidoo gives Duke a true rim protector and interior anchor—a piece they’ve been missing at times in recent seasons.

Aidoo averaged nearly a double-double with the Volunteers while anchoring one of the nation’s top defenses. His ability to defend the pick-and-roll, protect the rim, and finish around the basket will be critical to Duke’s success, especially when navigating the gauntlet of ACC play. His experience in high-pressure SEC battles adds another layer of maturity to this Blue Devils roster.

With this starting five—Foster, Proctor, Mitchell, Flagg, and Aidoo—Duke boasts a lineup that blends youth, experience, size, versatility, and star power. But perhaps the most significant storyline is how few of these names are entirely new to the Blue Devils’ fanbase.

In an era where elite programs often cycle through entirely new starting lineups year after year, Duke’s projected five emphasizes retention and development. Only Flagg and Aidoo are new additions, and both arrive with skill sets that complement the returning core rather than replacing it. This continuity is a testament to Scheyer’s evolving recruiting and roster-building philosophy, which prioritizes not just landing elite freshmen but fostering a program where players want to develop over multiple years.

It’s a stark contrast to the one-and-done-heavy approach that defined much of the Mike Krzyzewski era’s latter years. Scheyer has found a balance—still landing top recruits like Flagg but also keeping key veterans like Proctor and Mitchell engaged and committed. The transfer portal, meanwhile, has been utilized strategically rather than out of necessity, with Aidoo representing an ideal veteran addition to fill a specific need.

This approach could pay massive dividends. Continuity often translates to early-season success, better chemistry, and the type of cohesion that separates good teams from great ones in March. With three players familiar with Scheyer’s system and two newcomers whose games naturally fit within Duke’s structure, the Blue Devils enter the season as one of the more balanced and dangerous teams in college basketball.

Of course, competition for playing time will be fierce beyond the starting five. Talented returners like Sean Stewart and Jared McCain, as well as incoming freshmen from Duke’s loaded 2025 class, will push for minutes. But having the foundation set with three returning starters and two experienced, high-upside additions means Duke won’t face the steep learning curve that plagues many blueblood programs in transition years.

Expectations are always sky-high in Durham, but this season feels different. The combination of experience, talent, and chemistry has the Blue Devils positioned for a deep NCAA Tournament run, and potentially their first Final Four appearance under Scheyer. And if Flagg lives up to his generational billing while veterans like Proctor and Mitchell elevate their games, the ceiling could be even higher—a return to national title glory.

For now, though, the focus remains on building chemistry, fine-tuning rotations, and ensuring that this unique blend of familiar faces and elite newcomers hits the ground running. Only time will tell if this approach delivers the ultimate prize, but for Duke fans, the 2025-26 season already promises to be one of the most intriguing and potentially rewarding campaigns in recent memory.