It wasn’t announced. There was no press release. But make no mistake — something different is happening inside Duke’s summer practices.
Sources close to the program say Jon Scheyer and his staff have quietly overhauled the way practices are run. The days of rigid drills and scripted scrimmages? Gone. In their place: chaos. Controlled, competitive, high-speed chaos.
The new format is built around constant competition. Every possession matters. Mistakes are punished immediately. Roles aren’t assigned — they’re earned, rep by rep. And there’s no standing around. If you’re not involved, you’re falling behind.
That’s why Dame Sarr has flourished. The freshman guard thrives in a high-tempo, instinct-driven environment. His motor hasn’t stopped since Day 1, and his ability to pressure the ball full court has already made him a defensive tone-setter. “Dame’s just everywhere,” one staffer said. “He makes the gym louder.”
Isaiah Evans has also stepped right into the chaos — and embraced it. His fearless approach to scoring, especially in live scrimmages, has caught veterans off guard. Whether he’s attacking off the bounce or finishing through contact, Evans has been one of the most aggressive offensive pieces on the floor.
But maybe the biggest revelation has been Sebastian Wilkins.
Originally viewed as a long-term project, Wilkins has been anything but passive. He’s competed with an edge, showing toughness on both ends. He’s vocal, active, and according to one insider, “playing like someone who doesn’t care what the recruiting rankings said.” In this format, that mentality is winning.
Meanwhile, Caleb Foster — one of the few returning rotation players — has had to raise his intensity just to keep pace. And to his credit, he has. Foster’s decision-making and leadership in this chaotic environment have been crucial. He’s no longer the young guy — he’s being asked to steer the ship in the middle of mayhem.
In the frontcourt, Cameron Boozer has been exactly what Duke hoped for: physical, tough, and composed. Despite being a freshman, he’s already holding his own against older bodies. One stretch of practice reportedly featured Boozer racking up three blocks and two putbacks in a single session — drawing applause from both sides.
And Nikolas Khamenia? His game has taken a leap. Known mostly for grit and energy, he’s added a smoother shooting stroke — knocking down corner threes with confidence and spacing the floor in a way that’s forcing the staff to experiment with different lineups.
There’s been trash talk. There’s been contact. There’s been film rewound more than once to break down who really won each possession. And that’s exactly what this format was designed for.
“They’re starting to figure out who they are,” one source said. “And more importantly — who they’re not.”
This new practice model wasn’t without risk. But so far, it’s producing results — and maybe even some surprises the staff didn’t see coming.
