If you talk to anyone close to Duke Basketball right now—coaches, insiders, former players—there’s one thing they’ll all say: this might be the most talent Jon Scheyer has ever had in one locker room.
From returners like Isaiah Evans, who looks like a different player after pulling out of the NBA Draft, to the freshman trio of Dame Sarr, Cameron Boozer, and Darren Harris, the level of polish, skill, and athleticism showing up in summer workouts is drawing comparisons to some of the best Duke rosters of the last 15 years.
“It’s not just talent,” one practice observer said. “It’s the way they’re working together already. You don’t usually see this much communication, this early.”
Even Caleb Foster, who’s stepping into an upperclassman leadership role, has taken the next leap. “He’s stronger, more vocal, more in control,” one assistant coach said. “It’s like he’s been waiting to own this team.”
But here’s the catch…
The problem? There’s only one basketball.
With so many weapons—Evans creating off the bounce, Sarr stretching the floor, Boozer’s freakish instincts, and Harris lighting it up from deep—the real challenge may not be talent at all. It may be role definition and sacrifice.
“Everyone here could be a 15-point scorer on another team,” a former Blue Devil said. “But if they don’t figure out how to win together, talent won’t mean anything in March.”
And right now? That’s what Jon Scheyer and his staff are watching closely.
“Who buys into defending?” one insider asked. “Who plays the right way when their shots aren’t falling? That’s the difference between hype and championships.”
Summer practice is just the beginning—but one thing’s clear: this Duke team has the pieces. The question now is: can Scheyer solve the puzzle?
