When Duke’s stacked summer roster came together, expectations were high — but so was the patience. With elite freshmen like Dame Sarr and Cameron Boozer joining the fold, many assumed this team would need time to gel. The talent was undeniable. The chemistry? That would come later.
But if early practices are any indication… later might already be now.
From the very first scrimmage, the tone shifted. Dame Sarr, known more for his long-term upside than immediate polish, delivered a fiery sequence that had coaches out of their seats. He blew up a handoff, locked down a returning guard, then buried a three in transition — all in a 30-second span that felt like a message.
“He was supposed to be a work in progress,” one staff member said. “But now he’s dictating tempo. Dictating standards.”
Then there’s Cameron Boozer. The 5-star forward arrived with the résumé, the genetics, and the hype. But even with all that, he’s exceeded expectations — not by dominating the ball, but by doing the dirty work. Multiple teammates have pointed out how vocal Boozer has been in shell drills, how often he’s the first to rotate, the first to box out, the first to speak up.
“It’s rare to see a freshman lead by example and by voice,” a coach remarked. “But that’s Cam right now. He’s holding guys accountable. And they’re responding.”
Meanwhile, the veterans — Caleb Foster, Maliq Brown, and Isaiah Evans — are feeding off that energy. Evans, in particular, looks like a different player from last season. The rim pressure, the defensive activity, the body language — all signs of someone ready to be the guy on the wing.
The rotation battles are already intense. What was expected to be a patient ramp-up is looking more like a sprint to readiness. And that’s throwing a wrench into the narrative.
“They said this group would need time,” a scout said, watching one practice. “But if this is what July looks like… I can’t imagine what December will be.”
So, yes — Duke’s roster is young. But it’s also hungry. It’s connected. And it’s finding leaders in unexpected places.
One fiery sequence from Dame. One vocal command from Cam. And just like that, patience has been replaced by possibility.
The question now isn’t if they’ll be ready.
It’s how soon they’ll start taking over.
