In a college basketball world obsessed with one-and-dones, NBA dreams, and transfer portal chaos, two Duke Blue Devils just did something rare — and incredibly powerful. While others chased the spotlight, they chose loyalty. While many moved on, they dug in. Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans could’ve taken their talents anywhere, but instead, they’re running it back in Durham. And their return might just be the secret sauce to another unforgettable season for Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils.
While most of the headlines surrounding Duke basketball this summer have focused on the mass exodus of five starters to the NBA Draft, there’s another storyline brewing in Durham that deserves a whole lot more national attention — and maybe even a standing ovation.
Because while the spotlight was on the stars leaving, two key Blue Devils — Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans — made a different kind of statement.
They chose to stay.
In an era where top players are jumping to the draft or hitting the transfer portal at lightning speed, Foster and Evans bucked the trend — and that decision might just change the trajectory of Duke’s 2025-26 season.
These two had every reason — and every opportunity — to walk away.
Foster, a former five-star point guard, opened last season in the starting lineup. Evans, one of the most electric young scorers on the roster, played in 36 games as a true freshman. Either could have declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. Either could have transferred to another powerhouse program with open arms and NIL money waiting.
But both said no thanks.
They stayed in Durham — and in doing so, gave head coach Jon Scheyer exactly what every elite team craves: veteran stability in a locker room full of hungry new talent.
Let’s be clear: Jon Scheyer’s job hasn’t been easy. He inherited the most iconic program in college basketball history from the Mike Krzyzewski. And while many assumed the success would just roll on, that hasn’t been the case at other legendary programs. Look no further than Kalen DeBoer replacing Nick Saban at Alabama or Hubert Davis taking the reins at UNC. In both cases, the transition hasn’t been smooth sailing.
But Scheyer? He’s quietly thriving.
He continues to land the top recruiting classes in the country, push players into the NBA, and now — perhaps most impressively — convince high-level talents to stay and help lead the next chapter.
Evans and Foster might not be putting up Cooper Flagg-type numbers — at least not yet — but they offer something this young Duke team desperately needs: experience, resilience, and leadership.
Evans, now a sophomore, averaged 6.8 points and nearly 14 minutes per game last season. He only started three games, but showed flashes of scoring brilliance and two-way potential. This year, with a bigger role on the table, Evans is a breakout candidate to watch.
Foster, now a junior, started seven games last season and saw his numbers dip slightly during a sophomore slump. But the talent is still there — and as likely the only upperclassman in the starting five, he’s poised to become the floor general Duke needs to glue this lineup together.
And speaking of that lineup… it’s loaded.
Alongside Foster and Evans, expect to see five-star newcomers like Cameron Boozer and Italian sensation Dame Sarr, plus returning big man Patrick Ngongba II, who’s ready to step into a full-time starting role after a promising freshman campaign.
If this sounds like a dangerous mix of youth and veteran grit, that’s because it is.
So while the country continues to gush over Duke’s new recruits and their NBA pipeline, the real story might be the two players who stayed behind to finish what they started.
Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans didn’t have to stay. But they did.
And because of that decision, Duke is not just reloading — they’re rising.
Watch out. The Blue Devils tip off their journey with an exhibition against UCF on October 21… and the spotlight may soon find itself squarely on the backs of the two stars who
didn’t leave when they could have.
