The Duke Blue Devils’ 2024–25 season didn’t end the way they had hoped. After an impressive regular season, they carried their momentum into the ACC Tournament, capturing their 23rd conference title in program history. Entering the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and the top team in the East Region, Duke, led by Jon Scheyer, looked poised for a deep run. They dominated their way through the early rounds of the tournament—until they ran into Houston in the Final Four. Duke appeared in control and on their way to victory, holding a 14-point lead with about eight minutes left. But Houston mounted a stunning comeback, erasing the deficit and ultimately eliminating the Blue Devils in heartbreaking fashion.
The end of Duke’s season came with some additional shakeups. Star freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, along with sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor, have all declared for the 2025 NBA Draft set for June. While much of Duke’s young core is moving on to the next level, there’s a bright spot for the Blue Devils—Darren Harris, a four-star recruit from the class of 2024, has announced he’ll be returning for his sophomore season. His decision gives Duke a valuable piece to build around as they look ahead to next year.
Former 4-Star Recruit Makes Key Decision About His Future at Duke
By Toran Flores | Athlon Sports | Updated April 22, 2025
The Duke Blue Devils wrapped up their 2024–25 season with a mix of triumph and disappointment. After an outstanding regular season, Duke carried its momentum into the ACC Tournament, capturing the program’s 23rd conference title. The Blue Devils then entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed and the top team in the East Region. Under head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke looked dominant—until their Final Four clash with Houston.
In that matchup, Duke appeared well on its way to victory, holding a 14-point lead with around eight minutes remaining. But Houston stormed back, erasing the deficit in dramatic fashion and knocking the Blue Devils out of the tournament in heartbreaking fashion.
The end of the season brought further change, as several key players declared for the NBA Draft. Freshman standouts Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel, along with sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor, all announced their intentions to go pro, leaving major holes in Duke’s roster heading into next season.
However, there was a silver lining for the program. Darren Harris, a four-star recruit from the class of 2024, has decided to return for his sophomore season. While Harris didn’t see much playing time in his freshman year—averaging just six minutes per game in 21 appearances—his decision to stay gives Duke a promising piece to build around.
Harris was a highly sought-after prospect coming out of high school, and his commitment to Duke was the realization of a long-time dream. “He’s been somebody that’s really dreamed about coming to Duke for some time,” Scheyer told Sports Illustrated’s Matt Giles back in 2023.
With much of Duke’s young core moving on to the next chapter of their careers, Harris’ return may prove critical as the Blue Devils begin reloading for another run.
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