Duke’s New Era Rolls On: Scheyer Reloads with Boozer Brothers as Blue Devils Eye Showdown with Michigan State
DURHAM, N.C. — The Duke Blue Devils have long stood as a pillar of excellence in college basketball. And even in the post-Krzyzewski era, that standard hasn’t wavered. In fact, it may be rising once again.
Jon Scheyer
The Blue Devils stormed to a 35-4 record, claiming the ACC Tournament championship and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Under Scheyer’s leadership, Duke bulldozed a fearsome tournament path—taking down Alabama, Arizona, Baylor, and Mount St. Mary’s—before bowing out in the Final Four to Houston. It was a bitter end to a brilliant season, but for a program built on sustained success, the future always starts the moment the season ends.
And in Durham, the future is now.
As the college basketball world turns its eyes toward the 2025–26 season, CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reports that Duke has already locked in a high-profile December matchup with the Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing. While the exact date for this ACC/Big Ten Challenge clash remains TBD, the stakes are already massive.
Michigan State is fresh off its own deep run, reaching the Elite Eight before falling to top-seeded Auburn. Tom Izzo’s squad, known for grit and experience, defeated Bryant, New Mexico, and Ole Miss along the way. With the Breslin Center sure to be roaring, this early-season showdown offers Duke an immediate test against another storied program.
But Duke’s roster will look vastly different than the one that captivated fans last March.
Cooper Flagg—the hyper-talented freshman phenom who became the face of Duke basketball for one electric year—is off to the NBA, along with dynamic wing Kon Knueppel. Their departures leave behind enormous shoes to fill.
Enter the next generation.
According to 247Sports, the Blue Devils boast another loaded recruiting class, headlined by five-star sensation Cameron Boozer. Ranked as the No. 1 power forward and the No. 3 overall player in the country, Boozer arrives in Durham with sky-high expectations—and a family legacy to honor. His father, Carlos Boozer, was a Duke star and national champion under Coach K. Now, his son is set to carry the torch into a new era.
And he won’t be doing it alone. Joining Cameron is his twin brother, Cayden Boozer, a four-star point guard ranked No. 4 at his position and No. 24 overall nationally. Together, the Boozer brothers bring not only elite talent, but chemistry and toughness honed over years of playing side by side.
The Blue Devils are also adding Nikolas Khamenia, a versatile and skilled four-star power forward who’s ranked No. 15 overall and No. 5 at his position. He’s expected to provide key frontcourt depth and stretch scoring for a roster that, while young, may be just as potent as last year’s Final Four squad.
And in a move that reflects both confidence and urgency, Duke has already made a major decision: Cameron Boozer will start from day one. Sources close to the program say Scheyer informed Boozer and his family shortly after Flagg’s departure that he would be trusted to take the reins as Duke’s next star freshman.
“All eyes are on Cameron,” one assistant coach noted. “He’s not just physically gifted—he’s got the poise and motor that can change a program overnight.”
This torch-passing moment is more than symbolic. It’s the continuation of a philosophy Scheyer has embraced since Day One: recruit fearlessly, play boldly, and let the best players lead. With Cameron Boozer stepping into the spotlight and Cayden running the floor beside him, Duke fans have every reason to believe the program’s glory days are far from over—they might just be beginning again.
As the countdown to December’s clash with Michigan State begins, the message is clear: Duke is no longer in transition. They are thriving. And they are ready to prove, once again, why Durham remains the heartbeat of college basketball.
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