Could Duke’s 2025-26 Basketball Team Surpass Last Year? A Loaded Roster and Mock Draft Say Yes

Could Duke’s 2025-26 Basketball Team Surpass Last Year? A Loaded Roster and Mock Draft Say Yes

Durham, N.C. — Expectations are never low when it comes to Duke basketball, but entering the 2025-26 season, Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils might be facing one of the highest bars in program history.

The program is coming off a dazzling 35-4 season where it captured both the ACC regular-season and tournament crowns before advancing to its 18th Final Four. That team, led by generational talent Cooper Flagg and a stacked starting five, was historic in its own right — and then it was gutted by the NBA Draft.

All five starters were selected in 2025, including three lottery picks: Flagg went No. 1 overall to the Dallas Mavericks, Kon Knueppel was chosen at No. 4 by the Charlotte Hornets, and Khaman Maluach was taken 10th by the Phoenix Suns. Sion James and Tyrese Proctor also heard their names called in the second round.

For most programs, that kind of exodus would signal a reset year. For Duke? It might just be the start of another superteam.

Five Blue Devils Projected First-Rounders in 2026

According to the latest 2026 NBA mock draft by Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, Duke could once again dominate draft boards. Five Blue Devils were slotted in the first round:

• Cameron Boozer – No. 2 overall to the Washington Wizards
• Cayden Boozer – No. 11 to the Sacramento Kings
• Dame Sarr – No. 17 to the Milwaukee Bucks
• Patrick Ngongba II – No. 22 to the Golden State Warriors
• Isaiah Evans – No. 24 to the New York Knicks

For perspective: Duke had five players drafted last year, and now it’s projected to have five first-rounders in back-to-back seasons. That’s the kind of production reserved for programs flirting with dynasty status.

The Blueprint Under Jon Scheyer

Jon Scheyer, entering his fourth season as head coach, has quickly built a reputation not just as a recruiter, but as someone capable of reloading a roster in ways that rival the Coach K era.

This year’s team returns six players from last season’s rotation while welcoming the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class for the second straight year. Add in two carefully selected transfer portal veterans, and the Blue Devils have the balance of youthful star power and college experience that championship teams require.

The Boozer Brothers Take Center Stage

The storylines this season begin with Cameron and Cayden Boozer, the twin sons of Duke legend Carlos Boozer. Cameron, the 6-foot-9 forward ranked as one of the top prospects in the country, is already being projected as a potential No. 1 overall pick in 2026. His combination of skill, size, and basketball IQ has Duke fans dreaming of another Cooper Flagg-like impact.

Meanwhile, Cayden has steadily grown into one of the best guards in his class. His court vision and scoring ability at the point guard spot make him a critical piece in stabilizing Duke’s offense, and scouts believe his ceiling is only getting higher.

Depth, Talent, and Flexibility

Unlike last season’s team, which leaned heavily on its starting five, this year’s squad appears deeper. Patrick Ngongba II, when healthy, brings rim protection and passing touch that will anchor the frontcourt. Isaiah Evans offers elite perimeter scoring, while Dame Sarr, one of the most versatile guards in the nation, brings international polish and length.

Beyond the projected draft picks, Duke also boasts under-the-radar names like Sebastian Wilkins and Nik Khamenia, freshmen who could carve out roles faster than expected. This combination of immediate stars and developmental depth might allow Scheyer to mix and match lineups depending on matchups a flexibility last year’s group sometimes lacked.

The Path Ahead

Duke will open its season with fanfare, starting with the annual Countdown to Craziness at Cameron Indoor Stadium on October 3. Exhibition games against UCF (October 21) and Tennessee (October 26) will provide early tests before the marquee season opener on November 4 against Texas at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

The schedule won’t be forgiving, but Duke fans know this team isn’t built for moral victories it’s built to compete for banners.

Can They Be Better Than Last Year?

That’s the million-dollar question. Last season set an almost impossible standard: 35 wins, an ACC sweep, and another Final Four appearance. But when you combine the Boozer brothers’ star power, Evans’ shooting, Ngongba’s versatility, and Sarr’s two-way presence  all backed by the top recruiting class in the nation  it’s hard not to think the ceiling is even higher.

Scheyer has already proven he can mold freshman-heavy rosters into national contenders. Now he gets the chance to do it again, this time with even more firepower.

And if the mock draft projections are any indication, NBA scouts agree: the 2025-26 Duke Blue Devils might just be better  and more talented  than the team that came before them.