“Cooper Flagg Is Gone… But Duke Might’ve Just Unleashed Someone Even More Dangerous”
With Cooper Flagg heading to the NBA, many wondered who might fill the void. Duke isn’t rebuilding—it’s repositioning. Here are the five returning Blue Devils actually set to carry the torch next season:
1. Isaiah Evans – The Go-To Scorer
Evans burst onto the scene last season as Duke’s most dynamic freshman scorer. With Flagg and Co. gone, he’s Duke’s clear offensive spark plug. His smooth jumper and fearless drives give him the green light to lead. Expect him to be in the 15–20 PPG range and confident building possessions.
2. Caleb Foster – The Primary Floor General
Foster returns as Duke’s steady veteran guard. He averaged nearly five points last year but, more importantly, managed pace, orchestrated offense, and made smart decisions. Duke needs him to step into a full-time starting role as primary ball-handler and defensive anchor.
3. Maliq Brown – Defense & Energy Anchor
A transfer from Syracuse, Brown has solidified his place as a versatile defender—even while dealing with injuries last season. Returning at senior age, he’ll anchor Duke’s interior pressure, come off the bench or start, and energize on both ends.
4. Patrick Ngongba II – The Emerging Role Player
Ngongba carved out solid minutes as a freshman—playing 30 games, grabbing rebounds, and protecting the rim. At 6’11”, he adds size and rebounding depth behind Brown and incoming bigs. His continued growth could make him a reliable frontcourt contributor.
5. Darren Harris – The 3-and-D Wing
Though Harris’ production was modest last year, he showed flashes as a knockdown shooter and committed defender. Now entering Year 2, he looks poised to expand his role—and his confidence—in perimeter scoring and versatility.
Honorable Mention: Ifeanyi Ufochukwu (Transfer Depth)
Duke has added Rice transfer Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, a 6’11” center, as a depth piece behind Brown and Ngongba. While not expected to be a star, his length, rebounding, and defensive polish could surprise if injuries or foul trouble surface.
Why These Five Matter
Duke isn’t expecting someone to simply replicate Flagg. Instead, expect a balanced rotation where scoring is distributed, defense is aggressive, and leadership is shared. Coach Scheyer seems to be focused on team cohesion, veteran consistency, and maximizing upside of returners.
While former freshmen like Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach, and others helped it succeed last year, they all declared for the draft or transferred—meaning these five returners (plus top recruits like Cayden and Cameron Boozer set to arrive in 2026) will form the core.
Yes, Cooper Flagg is gone. But Duke isn’t just surviving this change—it’s evolving.Isaiah Evans and Caleb Foster give floor control and scoring. Maliq Brown and Patrick Ngongba II provide interior presence and defense. Darren Harris adds perimeter shooting and grit.Together, they form a gritty, smart, versatile foundation. With strong development, this group could surpass expectations—and make Duke dangerous again in the ACC and beyond.
Stay tuned—Duke basketball’s next era starts now.
