The Duke Blue Devils basketball program is set to undergo a significant transformation for the 2024-25 season. With the recent NBA Draft announcements, the team will lose its entire starting five from last season. Freshman center Khaman Maluach has joined Tyrese Proctor, Kon Knueppel, and Cooper Flagg in declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft. Additionally, Sion James, the fifth starter from the previous season, has exhausted his collegiate eligibility and is also expected to hear his name called during the draft.
While head coach Jon Scheyer will be working with a revamped roster, there is some good news. Several key players have opted to return for another season, including Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Darren Harris, Maliq Brown, and Patrick Ngongba II. Foster and Evans are expected to form the starting backcourt, while Harris, Brown, and Ngongba will likely play significant roles in the rotation.
On the recruiting front, Duke is poised to welcome the #3 overall recruiting class for 2025, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. The incoming class is headlined by highly touted prospect Cameron Boozer. In addition, five-star Nik Khamenia and four-star Cayden Boozer (Cameron’s brother) will also join the Blue Devils next season.
Duke has also managed to retain all its players amid the chaos of the transfer portal, becoming one of only three programs to avoid losing any players to it this offseason. However, the program has not yet added any transfers. That could change soon, as Cedric Coward, a top transfer from Washington State, has Duke and Alabama on his list of final two options. Coward has expressed that his main focus is the 2025 NBA Draft, but he could return to college basketball if he decides to play another season.
Several Blue Devils are expected to hear their names called on draft night this summer, with multiple freshmen from this past season projected to be top-ten picks. According to ESPN’s most recent 2025 NBA mock draft, here’s where the Duke players are slotted:
#1 overall – Cooper Flagg (Utah Jazz)
#7 overall – Khaman Maluach (Toronto Raptors)
#8 overall – Kon Knueppel (San Antonio Spurs)
#52 overall – Tyrese Proctor (Los Angeles Clippers)
#53 overall – Sion James (Memphis Grizzlies)
While next season will feature a lot of new faces for the Blue Devils, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the incoming talent. The program could still make more moves if they decide to pursue transfers, potentially further strengthening an already promising squad.
