What We Learned from Duke Basketball’s Summer Scrimmage as Blue Devils Gear Up for Promising 2025-26 Season Ahead

If Duke’s summer scrimmage was any indication, the 2025–26 season promises to be one of excitement, renewal, and championship ambition in Durham. With a packed house at Cameron Indoor Stadium buzzing from the moment the team took the court, the Blue Devils gave fans their first glimpse at a retooled roster under head coach Jon Scheyer that blends high-profile freshmen with returning veterans and improved depth across every position.

Summer scrimmages are usually more about development than dominance, but this one felt like a showcase of potential. The tempo, the defensive intensity, and the competitive edge were evident from the opening tip. Duke’s blend of five-star newcomers and key returners brought an electric atmosphere and a host of takeaways.

The most obvious headline coming out of the scrimmage was the performance of freshman guard Khamani James. The five-star point guard from Las Vegas arrived on campus with plenty of hype, and on Saturday, he looked every bit the floor general Duke fans hoped for. James controlled the game’s pace, threaded passes with precision, and showed an early command of Scheyer’s offensive sets. His ability to get into the paint, collapse defenses, and kick to shooters opened up the floor in ways Duke lacked at times last season. What stood out even more was his vocal leadership—rare for a freshman—directing traffic and encouraging teammates between plays.

Alongside James, sophomore forward Sean Stewart emerged as one of the most physically dominant players on the court. After a freshman year where minutes were limited, Stewart has clearly taken a leap. He played with purpose, outworked defenders on the glass, and threw down a series of highlight-reel dunks that got the Cameron crowd to its feet. More importantly, his mid-range jumper looked polished, a sign of development that could make him a matchup nightmare this season.

The veteran presence of Mark Mitchell and Tyrese Proctor gave the scrimmage a sense of cohesion often missing in summer exhibitions. Proctor, now a junior, ran the offense when James shifted off-ball and showcased a level of maturity that made Duke’s half-court sets hum. His pull-up three-pointer looks more consistent, and he routinely made smart decisions with the ball. Mitchell, meanwhile, played with the kind of confidence that only comes with experience. His versatility was on full display—guarding multiple positions, finishing through contact, and hitting corner threes.

Defensively, Duke’s intensity was impossible to ignore. For a summer scrimmage, the level of communication, switching, and help-side defense suggested a group committed to returning to the Blue Devils’ gritty, old-school roots. New assistant Emanuel Dildy’s impact was evident in how engaged the players were defensively. Duke held most offensive possessions to one shot, and even in transition, sprinted back with urgency. The tone was clear: this group wants to be elite on both ends of the floor.

But the biggest surprise of the day may have come from a lesser-known freshman—shooting guard Micah White out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Not as hyped as some of his classmates, White lit up the scrimmage with his pure shooting stroke, burying five three-pointers and showing no hesitation against older competition. White moved off the ball like a veteran and played within the flow, earning cheers and nods of approval from the coaching staff and fans alike.

Returning big man Christian Reeves was active and vocal throughout the scrimmage. After missing much of last season due to injury, Reeves looked healthy and aggressive. While still raw in certain areas, his rim protection and rebounding showed growth. His timing on blocks and ability to alter shots in the paint stood out, giving Scheyer a much-needed interior anchor.

Duke’s bench, often a question mark last season, looked far deeper this year. Jaden Schutt—after redshirting the previous year—seems poised to crack the rotation. His outside shooting remains deadly, but it was his off-ball movement and defensive improvement that turned heads. Combine that with the play of freshman wing DeShawn Spencer, who showed flashes of two-way excellence, and the Blue Devils suddenly have real rotation flexibility.

One of the most compelling developments was the team’s ball movement. Gone were the stagnant offensive stretches that plagued last season’s early games. Instead, the Blue Devils played with pace, purpose, and spacing. The extra pass was a priority, and the assist totals reflected it. The chemistry, even at this early stage, felt advanced. That’s a testament to the summer work the team has already put in.

Jon Scheyer, speaking after the scrimmage, praised his team’s effort and camaraderie.

“We’re ahead of schedule in a lot of areas,” Scheyer said. “This group came in ready to compete and challenge each other. From day one, the tone has been set—everyone’s working toward a common goal.”

He was particularly pleased with the team’s balance.

“We’re not relying on one guy to carry us. Everyone contributes. That’s the kind of culture we’re building,” Scheyer added.

Still, there are areas of growth ahead. Turnovers were high in stretches, especially as players pushed the tempo. Some defensive rotations broke down when players got overaggressive. And the bigs, while improved, still need to finish more consistently around the rim. These are expected kinks in July, not red flags, but they provide a blueprint for the coaching staff’s next steps.

Perhaps most encouraging for fans is the team’s collective energy. Players cheered for each other from the bench. There was visible chemistry between the veterans and newcomers. Proctor and Mitchell frequently pulled younger players aside for teaching moments, while James and Stewart encouraged everyone after missed plays. For a program with championship aspirations, those little moments matter.

The fan base certainly seemed to think so. Students and locals alike packed the gym, creating an environment that felt more like a regular-season ACC game than a July practice. The roars for big dunks, the gasps at ankle-breaking crossovers, and the synchronized chants reminded everyone that Duke basketball is more than just a team—it’s a tradition, a community.

Looking ahead, Duke’s non-conference slate is still being finalized, but early indicators suggest another challenging road awaits. There’s chatter about a potential early-season showdown with a top-five opponent, and the Blue Devils are expected to be ranked inside the top 10 when preseason polls are released.

If Saturday’s scrimmage is any indication, they’ll be ready.

The 2025–26 Blue Devils appear to have all the ingredients of a championship contender: dynamic guard play, defensive toughness, veteran leadership, versatile scoring, and a coaching staff fully in sync with its roster. There will be tests. There will be growing pains. But this summer scrimmage gave us something rare in July—a glimpse of March.

In the end, it wasn’t just a scrimmage. It was a statement. Duke basketball is reloaded, reenergized, and ready to make noise once again. As the crowd filtered out of Cameron, the feeling was unmistakable: something special is brewing in Durham. And the journey is just getting started.