Something unusual is brewing in Durham — and it’s not just your typical offseason conditioning. According to insiders, Jon Scheyer is treating this summer like a science lab, and his bold experiments might just give Duke basketball its next great advantage.
Forget tradition. This summer’s practices have featured unconventional lineups, positionless rotations, and relentless tempo training that’s left players both exhausted and energized.
> “It’s not about who starts or who scores,” one insider said. “It’s about who fits. Scheyer is mixing and matching guys until it clicks — and it’s clicking fast.”
Building a Monster in the Lab
At the heart of this experiment? A unique blend of returners and fresh faces:
Isaiah Evans has taken on a hybrid role, showing he can defend the post and run the wing.
Caleb Foster, now a junior, is thriving as a combo guard in dual-point sets.
Maliq Brown has become the glue guy in multiple lineup looks — sometimes even initiating offense.
Dame Sarr and Darren Harris are spacing the floor in small-ball units that could run opponents off the court.
And towering presence Patrick Ngongba II is anchoring fast-paced drills that turn defense into lightning-quick offense.
Scheyer’s staff has even tested two-big rotations, flipped the typical defensive assignments, and pushed veterans out of their comfort zones. The message is clear: nothing is guaranteed, and versatility wins.
> “Every guy is learning two or three roles,” a team source revealed. “That’s by design. If someone goes down, the next man doesn’t just fill in — he takes over.”
The Blueprint for a Powerhouse
This isn’t just training — it’s transformation. Coaches believe that by September, Duke could be the most tactically flexible team in the nation. And if it works? It won’t just win games — it’ll break opponents.
Jon Scheyer is building something dangerous in the lab this summer. And when the rest of college basketball finally sees it in action, it may already be too late.
