For weeks, the buzz around Durham was quiet but persistent: What is Jon Scheyer cooking up this summer?
With a mix of returning talent and new faces, speculation was everywhere — lineup debates, system tweaks, rotation questions. But Scheyer kept things close to the chest. No big announcements. No flashy declarations. Just quiet work behind the scenes.
Now?
After a few intense practices and some leaked clips behind closed doors… the fog is starting to clear.
Scheyer isn’t chasing hype. He’s building something tougher. Smarter. Faster.
Gone is the overly structured half-court reliance from last season. In its place? Fluid motion. Ball screens with purpose. Wings crashing the glass. Bigs switching everything. The identity shift is real — and it’s starting to reflect in the players who are rising.
Maliq Brown: The Anchor Nobody Saw Coming
The biggest signal of change? The rise of Maliq Brown.
Scheyer seems to be building around versatility and toughness, and Brown checks both boxes in bold ink. He’s looking like a defensive quarterback — calling out coverages, switching onto guards, and attacking rebounds with purpose. On offense, he’s no longer just a finisher — he’s screening, rolling, kicking, and even knocking down the mid-range.
“He’s the guy holding everything together,” one insider said. “And Scheyer’s system is letting him shine.”
Isaiah Evans: From Gunner to Game-Changer
Scheyer’s tweaks also seem to be freeing up Isaiah Evans — who, after a streaky freshman year, is starting to show more poise and polish. The offense is built to move, and Evans is thriving in space. He’s reading help defenders better, taking smarter shots, and getting to his spots with less wasted motion.
More importantly?
He’s engaged on defense — which was a major point of emphasis coming into the summer.
Caleb Foster: The Conductor
In Scheyer’s reimagined offense, the point guard has more freedom — and Caleb Foster is making the most of it. His reads in transition, his ability to change pace, and his leadership in drills have made him the natural floor general.
“He’s playing chess out there,” said one observer. “Calm, sharp, and always one step ahead.”
The system isn’t built for iso-ball. It’s built for connection — and Foster is the one connecting everything.
Dame Sarr: Surprise Weapon
Then there’s Dame Sarr, the freshman most expected to develop slowly.
But if summer practice is any indication, Sarr didn’t come to wait. He’s disruptive on defense, has real burst downhill, and is already making a case for backup guard minutes — maybe more. Scheyer’s trust in him is growing by the day.
“He’s fearless,” said a teammate. “And he fits this system.”
The Bigger Picture
What Scheyer’s really doing isn’t about one player or one scheme — it’s about reshaping Duke’s identity. Less reliance on set plays. More reliance on decision-makers. Less flash. More fight.
In other words, he’s not trying to build a highlight reel. He’s trying to build a winner.
And now, we’re finally seeing the plan.
Don’t blink.
Because Coach Scheyer might just be making the boldest pivot of his career — and this summer, the shift is starting to show.
