With one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the country, the Duke Blue Devils are making a major overhaul for the 2025–2026 collegiate basketball season

In college basketball, few names resonate as loudly as the Duke Blue Devils. With a legacy built on national championships, NBA-caliber talent, and a fierce commitment to excellence, Duke has long been one of the sport’s preeminent programs. But as the Blue Devils prepare for the 2025–26 collegiate basketball season, it’s clear that the program is undergoing one of the most dramatic overhauls in recent memory—both by necessity and by design.

At the heart of this transformation is one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the nation. Head coach Jon Scheyer, now entering his fourth season at the helm, has successfully assembled a class that could redefine Duke basketball’s identity over the next several years. With a mixture of explosive scoring ability, defensive versatility, and high basketball IQ, the incoming freshmen are poised to immediately compete—and possibly contend—for national glory.

This isn’t just a reload. It’s a full-on revolution.

The overhaul wasn’t born in a vacuum. Following the 2024–25 season, Duke saw a significant exodus of talent. Star freshman Cooper Flagg declared for the NBA Draft after a stellar season that saw him average 17.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and anchor the Blue Devils on both ends. Veteran players like Jeremy Roach and Mark Mitchell also moved on—Roach through graduation and Mitchell to the professional ranks.

While the team made a Sweet 16 appearance, it fell short of the Final Four expectations that routinely hover over Durham. Internal inconsistencies, injuries, and a lack of reliable perimeter shooting plagued the Blue Devils throughout the season.

Scheyer and his staff didn’t waste time lamenting missed opportunities. Instead, they doubled down on recruiting—and landed big.

Duke’s 2025 recruiting class is being hailed as the top in the nation by most major services, including 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN. It features a blend of 5-star standouts and undervalued high-ceiling prospects who fill immediate needs.

• Joson Sanon (5-star SG, #4 nationally)
  The Massachusetts native is a dynamic scoring guard with elite athleticism, defensive instincts, and a proven ability to take over games. Sanon’s combination of explosiveness and confidence gives Duke a lead scorer who thrives under pressure.
• Koa Peat (5-star PF, #6 nationally)
  Peat, a physical forward out of Arizona, brings a bruising presence in the paint. At 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, he plays like a seasoned college veteran. With a motor that never stops and the ability to stretch the floor, Peat is expected to play a massive role right away.
• Darryn Peterson (5-star combo guard, #8 nationally)
  A fluid athlete with a polished skillset, Peterson is comfortable as a ball-handler or off-ball scorer. His decision-making and ability to create for others suggest he’ll be key to Duke’s offensive orchestration.
• Malachi Moreno (5-star C, #12 nationally)
  The 7-footer from Kentucky offers length, rim protection, and a budding offensive game. With the departure of Christian Reeves and uncertainty at the center position, Moreno could start from Day 1.
• Isaiah Evans (4-star SF)
  A long wing with a sweet shooting stroke, Evans brings floor spacing and defensive versatility to the table.
• Kon Knueppel (4-star SG/SF)
  Known for his high basketball IQ and sharpshooting ability, Knueppel is a Swiss Army knife who fits the modern game well.

This class isn’t just deep—it’s balanced. It checks every box: shot creators, shooters, post defenders, and transition athletes. It also reflects Scheyer’s long-term vision for the program: positionless basketball with relentless effort and pace.

When Jon Scheyer took over for the legendary Mike Krzyzewski in 2022, expectations were sky-high—and understandably so. Few programs, if any, have transitioned from an all-time great to a rookie head coach without turbulence. But Scheyer’s tenure has been defined by measured progress and elite recruiting.

Now, in Year Four, his program is unmistakably his own.

Gone are the days of leaning heavily on grad transfers or squeezing every ounce of production from veterans. Scheyer has prioritized youth, continuity, and upside. This new class is a reflection of that strategy. Rather than plugging holes, Duke is constructing a new foundation—brick by brick.

“We wanted guys who love basketball and who want to be coached hard,” Scheyer said at a recent media availability. “Talent is one thing, but you win with people who embrace the challenge. This group is hungry.”

Beyond the roster, there’s a philosophical shift underway in Durham.

Scheyer has made it clear that he wants to modernize Duke’s style of play. That means quicker pace, more spacing, and a deeper bench rotation. The 2025 class is custom-built for that brand of basketball.

Expect Duke to run more pick-and-roll sets, lean into transition opportunities, and use lineups filled with 6’6″–6’9″ interchangeable players. Moreno anchors the interior, while Sanon, Peat, and Peterson offer three-level scoring and defensive switchability.

Assistant coaches like Chris Carrawell and Jai Lucas have also emphasized skill development and analytics-driven decision-making. In short, the Blue Devils are moving into the new age of college hoops—with the tools and talent to do it successfully.

While the freshman class headlines the overhaul, returning players will be critical in setting the tone. Tyrese Proctor, if he opts to return for one more season, could provide much-needed leadership and experience at the guard position. Freshmen rarely lead alone, and having an experienced floor general would offer a stabilizing presence.

In addition, role players like Caleb Foster and Jaden Schutt—both of whom showed flashes in 2024–25—could find themselves in expanded roles. Schutt’s perimeter shooting is especially valuable in a rotation that has historically leaned on slashing guards.

The blend of hungry veterans and high-upside rookies is exactly what gives this team the potential to make noise in March.

Duke never flies under the radar. With a class this hyped and a program this decorated, expectations will be sky-high. Blue Devils fans will demand not only ACC dominance but a return to the Final Four, and potentially, a sixth national championship.

But youth comes with inconsistency. No matter how talented the freshmen are, there will be growing pains. Sloppy turnovers. Defensive lapses. Off shooting nights. The margin for error in the ACC is thin, and programs like North Carolina, Miami, and Virginia are not standing still.

Still, there’s an undeniable buzz around this team. The potential is tantalizing—and the ceiling, with the right chemistry and health, is championship caliber.

Beyond the 2025–26 season, this overhaul could mark the beginning of another dominant stretch in Durham. If this class delivers and Scheyer continues to recruit at this level, Duke could find itself replicating the 1999–2001 or 2009–2015 eras—when Final Fours and top draft picks became an annual expectation.

More importantly, Scheyer is carving out his own identity. No longer operating in Coach K’s shadow, he’s proving he can win with his own staff, his own vision, and his own recruits. And recruits are responding—both with commitments and with on-court production.

The Blue Devils are still blue-blooded. But with this overhaul, they might just be bloodthirsty again.

As the 2025–26 season looms, one thing is certain: the Duke Blue Devils are all-in on the future. A top-ranked recruiting class, a clear philosophical identity, and a hungry young coach make for one of the most compelling stories in college basketball.

For fans of the game, watching this transformation unfold at the historic Cameron Indoor Stadium will be must-see TV. And for the rest of the nation? Be warned—Duke may be young, but they’re already dangerous.