Every season at Duke, practices are a showcase of elite talent, with future NBA players pushing each other to the limit. But this week, one player separated himself so completely that all the post-practice chatter centered around him. Forget the rest of the roster—coaches and teammates only wanted to talk about Dame Sarr.
The 6’5” freshman guard from Italy arrived in Durham with plenty of intrigue, known for his smooth perimeter game and international experience. But in this practice, Sarr wasn’t just holding his own—he was dominating. Multiple sources described him as “unflappable,” calmly drilling threes, making the right reads in transition, and showing the poise of a veteran in crunch-time drills.
One staff member said, “He looked like the best guard on the floor today, and that’s saying something with this roster.”
Jon Scheyer echoed that sentiment after practice, singling out Sarr’s work ethic and maturity. “He’s got a natural feel for the game,” Scheyer said. “What stood out today was his decision-making—he played fast, but he also played smart. That’s exactly what we need from him.”
For a Blue Devils backcourt featuring proven names like Caleb Foster and young talent like Isaiah Evans, Sarr’s rise adds a new wrinkle to the rotation battle. He’s not just spacing the floor as a shooter—he’s defending hard, communicating, and stepping up as a playmaker.
Teammates reportedly rallied around his energy, with one player noting, “Dame was cooking all practice. Every time he hit a shot, it felt like the gym shifted.”
It’s only early October, but it feels like Duke may have found an unexpected X-factor in the freshman guard. And while the Blue Devils’ roster is loaded with size and skill, this week made one thing clear: all eyes are on Dame Sarr.
