It wasn’t just another day in the gym. The Duke Blue Devils wrapped up a heated summer practice session, but it’s what head coach Jon Scheyer said afterward that had players wide-eyed, coaches whispering, and fans refreshing social media for updates.
Multiple sources in the gym say Scheyer pulled the entire team together, stared at the group, and dropped one sentence that immediately flipped the energy:
> “We just found out who’s ready for opening night — and who’s not.”
The tone? Dead serious.
One Player Reportedly Stole the Show
Word around the gym is that Isaiah Evans, the long, wiry sophomore wing, was electric from start to finish. One assistant described his performance as “relentless,” especially during live scrimmage segments.
“He’s not just trying to score anymore,” the source added. “He’s trying to lead.”
Evans has been working on his handle, and it showed. Reports say he sliced through the defense multiple times, even finishing over a much bigger forward in transition — a move that reportedly got the entire bench off their feet.
Veteran vs. Newcomer Energy
Meanwhile, Caleb Foster isn’t giving up the spotlight. The junior guard is reportedly looking “stronger, faster, and meaner,” according to one team manager. He and freshman Dame Sarr went head-to-head in multiple drills, with both players exchanging buckets in a back-and-forth that had Scheyer pausing practice to reset the tone.
One observer said, “They weren’t going through the motions. It looked like March.”
And then there’s Maliq Brown, the senior forward who’s quickly becoming a vocal leader. During a rebounding drill, he apparently barked out matchups and even corrected a teammate’s rotation on the fly — a move that reportedly earned a nod from Scheyer mid-play.
Scheyer’s Message: Loud and Clear
After that final huddle, Scheyer’s message wasn’t just about who played well. It was about accountability. About urgency. About who’s buying in before the lights go on.
Players reportedly left the gym in silence — not out of tension, but because they understood the tone was shifting.
