The Duke basketball roster has undergone significant changes this offseason, and several key decisions still loom. Cedric Coward has yet to officially remain in the 2025 NBA Draft, but signs strongly point to him staying in. Meanwhile, Duke is considered the frontrunner to land international prospect Dame Sarr, though his commitment isn’t finalized.
Assuming Coward stays in the draft and Sarr chooses Duke, we’re getting a clearer picture of next season’s rotation. However, the Blue Devils’ projected lineup isn’t just built more on potential than proven production—it’s also missing a crucial component of any championship-caliber team: experience.
With Coward likely gone and Sarr coming in, next season’s starting five would feature just one upperclassman: junior Caleb Foster. The rest of the group likely includes sophomore Isaiah Evans, freshman Sarr or Nik Khamenia, freshman Cameron Boozer, and sophomore Patrick Ngongba II.
Off the bench, only Maliq Brown offers meaningful experience beyond the sophomore class. While Duke added transfers Ifeanyi Ufochukwu (Rice) and Jack Scott (Princeton), head coach Jon Scheyer will be working with a group largely unproven at the championship level.
Foster entered last season as a breakout candidate but struggled with consistency and eventually lost his starting role to Sion James. His talent is evident, but he hasn’t yet shown he can lead a title-contending team.
Evans stood out as a top-tier shooter during his freshman season, with 81% of his shots and 78% of his makes coming from three. While his shooting is elite, it’s unclear whether he can expand his offensive game and become a top scoring option.
Ngongba showed promise as a rim protector and transition threat but needs major development on offense. After an injury-limited freshman year, he’s another player expected to take on a major role without prior experience doing so.
Outside of sophomore sharpshooter Darren Harris—who played sparingly last season but has strong upside—the offensive load will largely fall on rookies: Khamenia, Sarr, and the highly touted Boozer twins, Cameron and Cayden. Of that group, Cameron Boozer looks like the most reliable contributor. He’s among the top recruits in the country and is projected to be one of the best freshmen in college basketball for 2025–26.
In short, next season’s Duke squad is bursting with raw talent and potential. But without proven production and veteran leadership, it’s hard to see this group as a true national championship contender—at least not yet.
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