The Cameron Boozer era at Duke has officially come to a close. After capturing the CBS Sports National Player of the Year award—the second consecutive Blue Devil to do so—Boozer declared for the 2026 NBA Draft last month. He's expected to follow in the footsteps of Cooper Flagg as a top-three pick this summer, marking yet another milestone for a program that has become a factory for elite talent.
When Flagg departed after a historic one-and-done season, Duke had the luxury of ushering in Boozer to fill the void. This time around, the Blue Devils don't have a single superstar of that caliber waiting in the wings. Instead, they're building something just as dangerous: arguably the deepest roster in the country. The headliner is Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell, the No. 3-ranked player in the transfer portal according to 247Sports.
Blackwell averaged 19.1 points per game for the Badgers last season and will help replace the scoring punch lost with Boozer and Isaiah Evans. He drew interest from Illinois, Louisville, and UCLA, making head coach Jon Scheyer's victory in that recruiting battle a significant statement for the program.
The Blue Devils are also bringing back several familiar faces. Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Patrick Ngongba II, and Dame Sarr all return to pair with another top-ranked high school recruiting class. Foster, a former four-star recruit from the 2023 class, started 30 games last season and posted career bests across the board. Despite a late-season foot fracture against North Carolina, he returned in time for the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament and will be the team's most experienced returnee.
Then there's Scharnowski, who projects as Duke's Swiss Army Knife this season. While he may not crack the starting lineup on opening night, he's more than capable of logging 15-20 minutes off the bench. The Belmont transfer averaged 10.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 21.8 minutes per game—a stat line that suggests he could thrive in a reserve role for a deep Blue Devils squad.
With this mix of high-level transfers, experienced returners, and blue-chip recruits, Duke is poised to reload rather than rebuild. Expect Jon Scheyer's team to be a preseason top-five pick when the polls drop later this fall. The Boozer era may be over, but the next chapter for Duke basketball is shaping up to be just as compelling.