Alexander Brown
Duke landed its third commitment in the transfer portal on Friday from Tulane star guard Sion James. The 6-foot-2 guard told 247Sports that he is withdrawing his name from the 2024 NBA Draft — paving the way to join the Blue Devils ahead of the 2024-25 season.
“I chose Duke because it gives me the chance to impact winning and compete under the brightest lights in college basketball,” James told 247Sports. “I work with a talented and experienced team that knows how to win games and develop players, and I get to play with some of the most talented players in the country.”
Last month, Duke added Purdue shooter Mason Gillis. The 6-foot-9 forward played a critical role in the Boilermakers reaching the Final Four for the first time since 1980. He could find himself in position to earn a starting role with the Blue Devils after coming off the bench during the 2023-24 campaign.
News of Gillis’ commitment came days after Duke landed a pledge from Syracuse forward Maliq Brown.
The Blue Devils lost seven players to the transfer portal: Jeremy Roach, Marcos Mitchell, TJ Power, Jaylen Blakes, Christian Reeves, Jaden Schuttand Stewart. Duke’s Stars Kyle Filipowski It is Jared McCain declared for 2024 NBA Draft earlier this month. Both players are in talks to be lottery picks this summer.
Year 3 of Jon Scheyer in Duke will look drastically different. The Blue Devils return four starters ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in the post-Mike Krzyzewski era. With the arrival of the top-ranked recruiting class, expectations for the Blue Devils will remain sky-high.
Duke’s starting backcourt during the 2024-25 season is shaping up to be a pair of returners in Tyrese Proctor It is Caleb Foster. Proctor bypassed the 2023 NBA Draft to return to school for his sophomore season and decided to return for one more season to boost his stock ahead of next summer’s draft.
Foster was a highly touted recruit in Duke’s 2023 recruiting class, which was ranked second in 247Sports’ rankings behind Kentucky. With McCain and Roach out of the program, the door is open for Foster to take on a larger role before next season.
CBS Sports is tracking the status of Duke’s roster and recruiting class in real time. This is where all of Duke’s current players and commits are.
Incoming transfers
Mason Gillis (Purdue transfer)
GP: 39 | GS: 0 | PPG: 6.5 | RPG: 3.9
Gillis was one of the most underrated players in the transfer portal. Gillis could have a chance to start alongside Proctor, Foster, Flagg and Maluach. Gillis was ranked as the No. 64 overall player in the CBS Sports Transfer Portal Rankings. Gillis shot 46.8% from distance on 3.2 attempts per night. He will provide valuable shooting for Duke after McCain left the NBA program.
Maliq Brown (Syracuse transfer)
GP: 32 | GS: 18 | PPG: 9.5 | RPG: 7.2
After spending the last two seasons at Syracuse, Brown entered the transfer portal and committed to Duke soon after. Brown started 18 games last season for the Orange and should be a valuable rotation piece next season. Brown, Gillis and Proctor are currently the only seniors on Duke’s roster.
Sion James (Tulane transfer)
GP: 31 | GS: 30 | PPG: 14.0 | RPG: 5.4
James played in 114 games in his four-year career at Tulane. James shot an impressive 38.1% from distance on a career-high 3.6 attempts per game. James should have the opportunity to compete for big minutes immediately given McCain and Roach leaving the program.
Duke players expected to return
Tyrese Proctor
GP: 32 | GS: 25 | PPG: 10.5 | APG: 3.7
Proctor will be the most experienced player on Duke’s roster next season (pending any veteran additions through the transfer portal). Proctor had an up-and-down season that included missing a few games due to various injuries. Proctor came off the bench seven times in his 32 total appearances and will play a key role in merging experience with the squad’s six first-year players.
Caleb Foster
GP: 27 | GS: 15 | PPG: 7.7 | RPG: 2.4
The 23rd overall player in the 2023 recruiting class showed flashes of his four-star billing from last season. Foster was ruled out of the NCAA tournament with a stress fracture in his ankle and had missed the previous five games with the same injury. Foster is the only player (currently) remaining in Duke’s star-studded 2023 recruiting class.
Duke players not expected to return
Jared McCain (declared for the NBA Draft)
GP: 36 | GS: 36 | PPG: 14.3 | RPG: 5.0
McCain was Duke’s best 3-point shooter last season. He finished the season making 41.4% of his long-range shots on 5.8 attempts per game. While McCain may be considered undersized at the combo guard position, he makes up for it with his tenacious rebounding ability. McCain recorded at least five rebounds in 19 of the 36 games he played. He projects as a lottery/mid-first round pick this summer.
Kyle Filipowski (declared for the NBA Draft)
GP: 36 | GS: 36 | PPG: 16.4 | RPG: 8.3
Filipowski proved to be a steady presence for Scheyer during his two seasons in Durham. He started all 72 games for the Blue Devils and earned ACC Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman and CBS Sports second-team All-American last season. Filipowski is another player who projects as a lottery/mid-first round pick this summer.
Jeremy Roach (in the transfer portal)
GP: 35 | GS: 35 | PPG: 14.0 | APG: 3.3
Roach spent the first four seasons of his college career with Duke and was a key contributor on Duke’s final Final Four team during the 2021-22 season. After averaging a career-high 14 points per game on 42.9% shooting from long range, Roach decided to enter the transfer portal and play his final season elsewhere. There must be many suitors for his services.
Mark Mitchell (Missouri commit)
GP: 33 | GS: 32 | PPG: 11.6 | RPG: 6.0
After starting 67 games over the past two seasons with the Blue Devils, the former five-star recruit has entered the transfer portal. Mitchell was ranked as the #6 Player in CBS Sports Transfer Rankings It is should help Missouri bounce back from an 0-18 showing in SEC play.
TJ Power (on the transfer portal)
GP: 26 | GS: 0 | PPG: 2.1 | RPG: 0.7
The former No. 17 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle played in 26 games during his first season with Duke. Power entered the transfer portal earlier this week.
Sean Stewart (in the transfer portal)
GP: 33| GS: 0 | PPG: 2.6 | RPG: 3.2
The former 22nd overall recruit in the 2023 cycle played in 33 games during his first season with Duke. He entered the transfer portal on Friday.
Jaylen Blakes (in the transfer portal)
GP: 31| GS: 1 | PPG: 1.8 | RPG: 0.8
Blakes spent his first three seasons at Duke and made 31 starts in consecutive seasons. Blakes was rated as a three-star recruit in the 2021 cycle.
Christian Reeves (in the transfer portal)
GP: 3 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.7 | RPG: 1.7
Reeves spent his first two seasons with Duke and made 16 total appearances. Reeves was rated as a three-star recruit in the 2022 cycle.
Jaden Schutt (in the transfer portal)
GP: 0 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0
Schutt enjoyed a redshirt season after undergoing knee surgery. He averaged 2.1 points in 14 total games as a freshman.
Ryan Young (out of eligibility)
GP: 36 | GS: 2 | PPG: 2.8 | RPG: 3.4
The former Northwestern transfer is out of eligibility. Young spent the last two seasons at Duke and was a key backup center for the team.
Duke’s next recruiting class
Duke’s 2024 recruiting class is loaded. It all starts with five-star offensive lineman Cooper Flagg, considered one of the best high school prospects in some time. The Blue Devils have six first-year players arriving on campus, which includes four five-stars and five players in the top 20 of the 247Sports rankings. Five-star center Khaman Maluach, the third overall player in his class, committed late in the training cycle. NBA Academy Africa to give the Blue Devils even more firepower. Flagg and Maluach should start in the front court alongside Proctor and Foster.
Here’s a look at Duke’s entry recruitment class with 247Sports ratings.
#1 Cooper Flagg
Flagg is the top two-way prospect in the country and the best high school player in America regardless of class or position. Flagg should fit right in with the Blue Devils because he’s an engaged defender who uses his size to block shots at the rim and hits the boards hard on both ends. On offense, Flagg has shown that he can be a three-tier scorer and has a killer instinct that makes him one of the most intriguing prospects in recent memory.
#3 Khaman Maluach
The last commit in Duke’s recruiting class could be ready to start at center this season. The 7-foot-2, 250-pound big man has committed to Duke over Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA and more. Maluach should pair exceptionally well alongside Flagg in the frontcourt because they can both do a little bit of everything.
#12 Isaiah Evans
With an open spot in the starting lineup (assuming Proctor, Foster, Flagg and Maluach are the other starters), Evans could have a chance to be the fifth and final starter. The five-star guard has committed to Duke over Florida State, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Memphis and Tennessee.
#17 Kon Knueppel
The five-star forward should be considered to start at SF depending on how Duke decides to fill the remaining roster spots. The top-ranked player from the state of Wisconsin committed to Duke over Wisconsin, Alabama, Virginia and Marquette.
#18 Patrick Ngongba II
Ngongba signed with Duke for UConn, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan and more. The five-star center was sidelined at the start of the high school season after undergoing successful foot surgery in November. He projects as a potential backup to Flagg and Maluach.
#51 Darren Harris
Harris was the first player of the 2024 recruiting cycle to commit to Duke. The 6-foot-6 wing is known for his 3-point shooting. He committed to the Blue Devils over George Mason, Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia Tech and more.
