It was a dream offseason for Jon Scheyer and Duke. The Blue Devils signed an elite recruiting class featuring four 5-star prospects, successfully retained key players like Dame Sarr, Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster, and Cayden Boozer, and then made a big splash in the Transfer Portal by landing Wisconsin guard John Blackwell.
Blackwell is coming off a junior season for the Badgers in which he averaged over 19 points per game and shot 39% from three-point range. He'll now step into the spotlight in Durham with major expectations as Duke looks to break through and finally win a national championship under Scheyer.
Duke has had elite teams in back-to-back seasons but fell apart in the last two NCAA Tournaments. They suffered brutal collapses against Houston in the 2025 Final Four and UConn in the 2026 Elite Eight.
What the Blue Devils have lacked the last two seasons is truly elite guard play. They've been forward-dominated, with Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer leading the charge. In 2026-27, that will change.
Duke has arguably the best backcourt in college basketball now, and Blackwell projects to be the team's best player overall. Sports Illustrated's Kevin Sweeney recently ranked Blackwell as the No. 1 shooting guard in the country, while noting that he expects Blackwell to be the Blue Devils' leading scorer.
John Blackwell and a loaded Duke backcourt may tip the scales for Jon Scheyer
It's a deep group of guards for Duke this season. Blackwell and company will lead the charge, and that could tip the scales for the Blue Devils. Guard play remains pivotal in college basketball, and it's something that can carry you a long, long way in March.
Duke has two senior guards who will likely occupy the two starting spots in Blackwell and Foster. Boozer is entering his sophomore season and grew up a lot down the stretch last season when he filled in for an injured Foster. He played extremely well in the ACC Tournament, helping Duke capture the title. He was having a great game against UConn, too, until the back-breaking turnover late.
Then there's 5-star freshman Deron Rippey Jr. , who figures to be lightning in a bottle off the bench for Scheyer. It's a deep and talented group.
Duke's entire roster is deep and talented. Complementing the guards will be Dame Sarr on the wing, who looks ready for a significant leap in his second season on campus. Then there's a frontcourt with Ngongba and two 5-star freshmen: Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Cameron Williams.
On paper, this is the deepest roster Scheyer has built yet in Durham. The addition of Blackwell was massive, adding star power to Duke's backcourt. It could be the move that puts the Blue Devils over the top in March.
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