DURHAM, N.C. — Speak about Duke’s freshmen is nothing new, and this season the theme has an much more acquainted ring to it.
Headlining the 2025-26 Blue Devils’ crop of blue-chip freshmen is Cameron Boozer, who’ll entice tv viewers and NBA observers to tune in.
This is not a repeat of a season in the past. However Duke’s teaching employees envisions no scarcity of must-see moments from the latest crop of Duke recruits.
The Blue Devils have turn into accustomed to counting on freshmen as greater than role-playing contributions and sometimes as main impacts. That was the case final yr, when three of the first-year school gamers had been lottery picks within the NBA.
Whereas Boozer, a Duke legacy because the son of Carlos Boozer, could be the one present Duke freshman at that stage, Nikolas Khamenia and Dame Sarr turning heads as properly.
“I believe our freshmen play just a little bit older, just a little bit smarter, particularly as a result of they purchase into what we’re making an attempt to do,” Duke sophomore swingman Isaiah Evans mentioned. “I really feel like we have got the most effective freshmen within the nation.”
That listing for the Blue Devils is certain to start with Cameron Boozer, who’s listed at 6-foot-9 and 250 kilos and strikes fluidly with or with out the ball. He’ll be thought-about an influence ahead, however can deal with a wide range of roles.
“He is only a big-time winner,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. “So once more, for me, it’s not about evaluating something apart from I assumed that he was a high-level participant.”
Scheyer has been round loads of these. As an assistant coach below Mike Krzyzewski, Scheyer was a part of the trouble to groom newcomers into turning into instantly impactful.
That pattern has continued with Scheyer in cost. Final season, Cooper Flagg’s presence was sufficient to attract consideration, however classmates Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach — fellow first-round draft picks in June — had been main the explanation why the Blue Devils gained the Atlantic Coast Convention and superior to the Last 4.
Scheyer could be quizzed about Cameron Boozer as usually as he answered inquiries about Flagg.
“I believe his toughness to beat making errors is exclusive for a freshman,” Scheyer mentioned of Boozer.
Cameron Boozer put collectively two dazzling preseason performances in exhibitions towards Central Florida and Tennessee.
“I do know there may be much more there that we can assist him with,” Scheyer mentioned. “The nice half about him, you already know he is eager about all of the issues he may have finished higher. That’s what makes him who he’s.”
He could be in Durham lengthy sufficient to gather a bunch of awards in a single season after which transfer on. He is not in place to provoke as a lot of the offense as Flagg, however his numbers may swell in a number of areas.
Cayden Boozer, Cameron’s twin brother, is also a part of Duke’s newest freshman class.
Sarr’s arrival was heralded partly due to his worldwide experiences. He is a local of Italy, although tabbed a five-star recruit.
With good size at 6-foot-8 and a repute as lockdown defender, Sarr will give the Blue Devils precious minutes.
Khamenia, who performs within the backcourt on the wing, might be destined for the beginning lineup.
“All of us come to Duke to get higher. We all know every single day is just not going to be simple,” Khamenia mentioned. “Competing towards these guys has solely made me higher. Coming in, my first day to now, I’ve improved and it is thanks to those guys. Clearly, taking part in with higher gamers helps you get higher.”
Khamenia is a Californian who has demonstrated a lot of power. He is additionally a bit much less heralded — for now — than some incoming school gamers.
So anticipate that to indicate up in his demeanor.
“I’ve simply obtained to maintain attacking every single day, not get glad, hold making an attempt to win each possession, hold making an attempt to win each sport, and simply controlling what I can management,” Khamenia mentioned. “It is not simple getting up to now. I believe anyone on this locker room can say that. From once we had been younger youngsters to now, even coming on this summer season, you undergo issues as a freshman.”
–Bob Sutton, Subject Degree Media
