When Duke’s new-look roster was assembled this offseason, the expectations came with a caveat: “Be patient.” Between young talent and new pieces, the early talk out of Durham was all about development. Chemistry would take time. Leadership would need to emerge. Even internally, the message was steady — don’t rush the process.
But then summer practice started. And everything changed.
Sources close to the program say the tone in the gym flipped fast. What began as cautious optimism has quickly become something louder — something undeniable. Coaches who expected to spend July teaching fundamentals are instead fine-tuning late-game sets. Players who were projected to “learn the system” are already running it. And perhaps most surprising of all, a so-called “project” is playing like a pro.
That “project”? Freshman Dame Sarr.
During a recent practice scrimmage, Sarr delivered the moment that flipped the mood. One fiery sequence — a block at the rim, a coast-to-coast finish, and a loud challenge to the upperclassmen — stopped everything. Not just because of the play, but because of who made it. It wasn’t supposed to be Sarr’s time yet. But suddenly, the gym was his.
“He just doesn’t play like a freshman,” one staff member said. “He’s fearless. He’s vocal. He’s earned respect a lot quicker than anyone expected.”
Sarr’s emergence has reshaped how the staff views this team. The learning curve they expected? He’s already ahead of it. The minutes they assumed he’d need to earn slowly? He’s gunning for a major role — now.
It’s not just him. Sophomore Isaiah Evans, who returned after flirting with the NBA, looks more explosive and polished. Junior Caleb Foster has stepped into a leadership role, commanding huddles and tempo. Maliq Brown continues to anchor the defense and communicate like a coach on the floor.
But it’s Dame Sarr who has given this group an identity. The edge. The swagger. The competitive fire that turns a team into a threat.
The talk around Duke isn’t about “when” anymore. It’s about “how soon.” And while no games have been played, no banners raised, there’s a buzz building that this team won’t need months to figure it out.
They said this roster would take time. But Dame Sarr and company have other plans.
