The Duke basketball program will enter the 2025–26 season with an extremely young roster. Caleb Foster and Maliq Brown stand as the only returning upperclassmen who logged significant minutes last season, highlighting just how much the Blue Devils will be relying on underclassmen moving forward.
With so little proven production returning, Duke faces a number of question marks. While several players on the roster have high ceilings, few have shown they can consistently contribute at a championship level—at least not yet. As a result, the pressure will fall heavily on the shoulders of Duke’s freshmen and sophomores to take major steps forward.
One player who could emerge from this young group is rising sophomore Darren Harris.
Harris saw limited action as a freshman, buried on a loaded roster that featured the nation’s top-ranked 2024 recruiting class. But next season, he’ll likely have a chance to carve out a meaningful role, especially as a spark off the bench. Known for his shooting ability, Harris could become a crucial weapon in Duke’s offensive attack.
A 6-foot-6 wing, Harris was ranked No. 40 in the 2024 class by 247Sports and was widely regarded as one of the best perimeter shooters in his class. He earned Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year honors in 2023–24 after averaging 17.2 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per game for powerhouse Paul VI Catholic (VA)—the same school that produced current Blue Devil Patrick Ngongba II and former Duke standouts Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels.
Beyond his shooting, Harris showed flashes of strong playmaking and defensive versatility in high school. With his size and strength (over 200 pounds), he fits the profile of a Jon Scheyer-style two-way wing.
As a freshman, Harris appeared in 21 games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.1 rebounds while connecting on just 5 of his 22 three-point attempts. Despite the slow start, the potential remains evident.
Harris could slide into a role similar to the one Isaiah Evans played as a freshman—a 3-and-D contributor. Last season, 81% of Evans’ shot attempts came from beyond the arc, where he hit 41.6%. With Evans expected to move into a starting role, Harris has an opportunity to fill that void and bring scoring and energy off the bench.
If things click, Harris could become a breakout player for Duke—and a key part of what might be one of the best perimeter shooting teams in the country next season.
Leave a Reply