Duke Already Plotting Next Twin Legacy: Eyes on Theo Ratliff’s Sons After Boozer Brothers Coup
As if securing Cameron and Cayden Boozer the most hyped twin package since the Harrison brothers wasn’t enough, Duke is already looking ahead to another set of twin towers that could shape the future of Jon Scheyer’s program.
Coming off a Final Four run and entering a season loaded with championship expectations, the Blue Devils are making sure the recruiting momentum doesn’t stall. Assistant coach Tyler Thornton was recently spotted at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, New York, checking out juniors Darius and Adonis Ratliff, according to Sam Kayser of League Ready.
And if the names sound familiar, they should. The 6-foot-11 brothers are the sons of former NBA All-Star Theo Ratliff, one of the greatest shot-blockers of his generation.
The Next Twin Towers?
Ranked No. 43 (Darius) and No. 52 (Adonis) in the class of 2026 by 247Sports, the Ratliff twins are already carving out reputations as rim protectors and versatile defenders. Archbishop Stepinac deploys them in complementary roles Darius anchoring the paint as the true center, while Adonis roams the floor as a forward, showing flashes of inside-out scoring and the ability to defend multiple positions.
The offers are already piling up. Both twins hold scholarships from Alabama, Louisville, Mississippi State, USC, Stanford, Texas, Wake Forest, and others. Darius has a few extra suitors like Cal and Pittsburgh, while Adonis recently added Bryant to his list. The only visit so far? Alabama a program clearly looking to get in early on their recruitment.
But the intrigue of Duke entering the picture can’t be ignored.
A Legacy Written in Blocks
Their father’s shadow looms large. Theo Ratliff spent 16 seasons in the NBA, making an All-Star team in 2001 and establishing himself as one of the premier shot-blockers of his era. He averaged 2.4 rejections per game across his career, with a jaw-dropping 3.7 blocks per contest during the 2000-01 season with the Philadelphia 76ers.
That pedigree is impossible to overlook. Watching Darius swat shots with authority or Adonis switch onto guards and erase drives at the rim feels like déjà vu. The Ratliff twins have inherited not only their father’s length and defensive instincts but also a hunger to adapt their games to today’s pace-and-space era.
Scheyer’s Twin Experiment
For Jon Scheyer and Duke, the timing feels uncanny. After pulling off a recruiting coup by landing the Boozer twins, Scheyer has proven he isn’t afraid to chase unique storylines and double down on NBA pedigree. If the Boozers thrive in Durham, what better follow-up than adding another twin duo with a professional bloodline?
It’s more than just a headline grab. Twin synergy matters on the court, and it’s no coincidence that programs like Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas have pursued siblings who play with an innate chemistry that others can’t replicate. For the Ratliffs, that bond could translate into one of the most intimidating defensive frontcourts in the country.
The Road Ahead
Of course, Thornton’s trip to Archbishop Stepinac was just an early scouting mission. Recruiting battles in the class of 2026 are only beginning, and the Ratliffs will have another year to boost their rankings and prove their polish against elite competition.
But the blueprint is clear: Duke is setting itself up not just for the Boozer era, but for whatever comes next. If the Ratliff twins grow into the players many expect them to become, Jon Scheyer may have found the perfect sequel to his first twin experiment.
For now, it’s only whispers and speculation. But the thought of the Boozers passing the baton to the Ratliffs in Durham is the kind of storyline that keeps the Blue Devil machine humming and keeps rival fan bases wide awake at night.
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