In a move that has Duke basketball fans scratching their heads — and some downright furious — head coach Jon Scheyer has announced sophomore Isaiah Evans as the surprise replacement for departing superstar Cooper Flagg.
Evans, who averaged a modest 6.8 points per game during his freshman season, was far from the top of anyone’s list to fill Flagg’s massive shoes. But according to Scheyer, the coaching staff sees something the public clearly doesn’t.
“We believe Isaiah is ready,” Scheyer said in a press conference that quickly went viral for all the wrong reasons. “He’s put in the work, transformed his game, and we trust him to lead this team.”
The backlash was immediate.
Social media exploded with memes, gifs, and sarcastic comments as fans expressed disbelief. One tweet read, “Is this April Fools in April? This has to be a prank.” Others questioned whether Duke was throwing in the towel for the season before it even started.
To add fuel to the fire, Duke is coming off a tumultuous offseason. Alongside Flagg, both Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor are heading to the NBA, leaving behind a gutted roster. The expectation was that a high-profile recruit or transfer would step into the spotlight — not a player who flew under the radar all last season.
Despite the public outcry, the numbers tell a more complicated story. Evans quietly shot an impressive 41.6% from beyond the arc and reportedly spent the offseason bulking up and refining his offensive skill set. Coaches insist that his low freshman stats don’t reflect his true potential.
Still, the decision has left the fan base split. Some are calling for patience, others are calling for change.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Evans as he attempts to silence the critics and prove his coach right. Whether he emerges as Duke’s new hero or becomes a cautionary tale remains to be seen.
One thing’s certain — the pressure has never been higher.
