The Duke Blue Devils made a strong run to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament this past season, but ultimately came up short in a close loss to the Houston Cougars. Following the season, several Duke players have opted to leave the program—many of them heading to the NBA Draft, a move head coach Jon Scheyer anticipated due to the team’s stacked roster.
However, not everyone is moving on.
This week, freshman forward Darren Harris announced via Instagram that he will return to Duke for his sophomore year. Shortly after the news broke, teammate Tyrese Proctor posted a short but impactful two-word message in response: “That time.”
Proctor’s message suggests that Harris, a former four-star recruit, is expected to take on a larger role for the Blue Devils next season.
Harris, a 6-foot-6 forward from Fairfax, Virginia, appeared in 21 games during his freshman campaign but averaged just six minutes and two points per game. His final game action came in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
Meanwhile, Proctor—who is currently testing the NBA Draft process—had a productive season, averaging 12.4 points per game on 45.2% shooting. He was a key contributor in Duke’s ACC Tournament title run and their deep NCAA Tournament showing.
Head coach Jon Scheyer is heading into his fourth year at the helm and has amassed an impressive record of 89–22 overall and 48–12 in ACC play, with three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
As the Blue Devils look ahead to the 2025–26 season, the return of Harris—paired with emerging talent and strong leadership from Scheyer—could keep Duke firmly in the national title conversation.
