Five Reasons to Be Excited for Duke Basketball in the 2026-27 Season

From the top recruiting class in the nation to a rekindled rivalry, Duke Basketball has plenty to anticipate for the 2025-26 season.
In their game against UConn, Duke held a 19-point lead, and many fans believed they were headed for back-to-back Final Four appearances. Unfortunately, that didn’t materialize, as UConn freshman Braylon Mullins shattered Duke hearts with a buzzer-beating logo three-pointer.
Jon Scheyer will enter next season with a considerably different roster. Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, and Patrick Ngongba are likely to depart for the NBA, Maliq Brown has graduated, and there are questions about whether additional players might enter the transfer portal.
While Duke supporters might not be as optimistic about next year as they were at this time last season, there are still many reasons to be excited. Let’s explore them.
No Preseason Player of the Year Favorite at DukeCameron Boozer is a strong candidate to win the National Player of the Year award, giving Scheyer back-to-back freshmen to claim the honor. However, next year’s roster probably won’t have a clear frontrunner for the award, which could actually be a positive for Duke fans.
Without a dominant star, college basketball viewers will get a chance to see just how skilled Jon Scheyer is as a coach. After having Cooper Flagg and Cameron Boozer in consecutive years, it will be fascinating to see which player emerges as the go-to guy and how Scheyer develops him.
The Potential Return of Dame SarrDame Sarr didn’t quite meet expectations at the start of the season. Coming from FC Barcelona and the EuroLeague, Sarr was projected as a first-round pick and was highly hyped.
But he improved significantly in the second half of the year, showing flashes of offensive talent while remaining a strong defensive presence. Although his first-round stock may have slipped this season, he proved he has the potential to be a first-round pick next year with more development at Duke.
If he stays, he immediately becomes one of the most experienced and intriguing players on the roster.
The Nation’s Top Recruiting Class, Once AgainFor the third consecutive year, Jon Scheyer is bringing in the top-ranked recruiting class nationwide. The 2026 class features three five-star prospects and one four-star, tying the highest number of five-star recruits Scheyer has signed since his initial recruiting cycle in 2022.
Cameron Williams is the standout and the highest-rated player in the class. Bryson Howard and Deron Rippey Jr. add scoring and playmaking to the backcourt, while Maxime Meyer, the only four-star recruit, could find a role in what’s expected to be a very open frontcourt rotation.
The Premier Backcourt in College BasketballCaleb Foster is entering his senior year. Although his return from injury had some ups and downs during the tournament, he showed significant growth compared to his first two seasons at Duke. As a senior with something to prove, Foster has every reason to have his best year yet.
Joining him will be five-star freshman Deron Rippey Jr., a dynamic scorer capable of creating his own shot and providing energetic defense. Cayden Boozer is another backcourt player to watch. Despite a crucial turnover against UConn, Boozer played well during Foster’s injury and shouldn’t be overlooked by the coaching staff or fans. This backcourt has the potential to be one of the most exciting in the country next season.
Facing North Carolina with a New Head CoachDuke’s success this season was partly due to the rivalry with North Carolina. The Tar Heels parted ways with head coach Hubert Davis after an early exit in the NCAA Tournament. While Davis is a talented coach who’ll likely find another opportunity, it was clear he wasn’t the right long-term fit for UNC.
North Carolina will hunt for a high-profile coach capable of restoring the program’s competitiveness. The Duke-UNC rivalry is widely regarded as college sports’ greatest, and it’s more exciting when both teams are competing at a high level. Next year could bring renewed energy to one of basketball’s most legendary rivalries.