Something’s changing in Durham — and you don’t need to be courtside to feel it.
Inside Duke’s practice facility, the sounds tell the story: the sharp echo of the ball hitting the hardwood, the quick blow of the whistle, and the relentless sneakers-on-floor grind of a team that refuses to waste a single rep.
Jon Scheyer isn’t just running practices — he’s setting a tone. From the first drill to the last, players are pushed to operate at game speed. No casual passes. No lazy closeouts. Every possession is treated like it’s the final seconds of a championship game.
Isaiah Evans, the electric sophomore wing from Fayetteville, is playing with a sharper edge — attacking the rim with purpose and knocking down shots with confidence. Caleb Foster is running the offense like a veteran, directing traffic and keeping the pace blistering. Maliq Brown is embracing his senior leadership role, setting the physical tone in the paint.
In the frontcourt, Patrick Ngongba II is a constant presence under the rim, challenging every shot, while Darren Harris and Cameron Sheffield are spacing the floor and punishing defenders who lose track of them. Even walk-on sparkplug Spencer Hubbard is making his presence felt, pushing teammates with his relentless hustle.
Then there’s the newcomers. Cameron Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia are already making waves, showing why they were so highly recruited. Dame Sarr, the Italian wing, is giving Duke another scoring threat from deep. Sebastian Wilkins is bringing a surprising level of maturity for someone who reclassified, and Cayden Boozer is proving to be a floor general beyond his years.
Veterans are holding younger guys accountable. Younger players are pushing veterans in return. The competition is fierce, but the respect is mutual. This isn’t the kind of energy that fades after the first week of camp — it’s the kind that builds trust, sharpens habits, and creates a foundation for winning.
“Intensity” doesn’t quite capture it. This is a commitment to doing things the Duke way — but with a modern edge. The pace is faster, the ball movement crisper, and the defensive focus relentless. Every whistle is a reminder: excellence is the standard.
Fans can see the shift already. Social media clips from practice have sparked conversations. Former players visiting the gym have praised the vibe. And those who’ve been around long enough know — when a Duke team looks this locked in before the season even starts, it usually means something big is coming.
If the energy inside these practices carries over to game day, this could be the year Duke takes another step toward hanging a new banner in Cameron Indoor.
