Just when Duke fans thought the post-Cooper Flagg era might bring a dip in dominance, a bold prediction has sent shockwaves through the college basketball world. NCAA insider Jon Rothstein has hinted that the Blue Devils are hiding a breakout star in plain sight — sophomore guard Isaiah Evans. Once a quiet contributor off the bench, Evans is now being tipped as the player who could not only replace Flagg’s production, but also take Duke on a championship run that nobody sees coming. Could the Blue Devils have just stumbled onto their next unstoppable force?
With Cooper Flagg no longer in the picture, a second-year player will have to do a lot of heavy lifting.
The Duke Blue Devils come off a devastating loss in the 2025 NCAA tournament’s Final Four against the Houston Cougars. The team, loaded with the talents of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and Tyrese Proctor, among others, appeared to be ready to clash with the Florida Gators in the championship game until Houston ruined their plans.
Duke’s pull continues there, and they will have a renewed roster ready to compete for a national championship. With intriguing additions such as Cameron and Cayden Boozer, sons of retired Duke legend Carlos Boozer, the Blue Devils look like a solid threat in the ACC and Division I basketball altogether.
Additionally, they will have several players returning to action for the 2025-26 season. Jon Scheyer did a terrific job last year, and he’s eager to see the team compete at the highest level again.
Analyst sees sophomore guard taking over Duke after Cooper Flagg
While the Boozer twins are set to leave their mark on the program, Jon Rothstein believes that a sophomore guard will have a solid season. During Monday’s episode of CBS’ “Inside College Basketball Now,” Rothstein identified Isaiah Evans as the next big thing at Duke. Despite all the losses they suffered in the offseason, the analyst is confident that Evans will have a solid campaign.
Duke is obviously going to be the class of the league until they are not,” Rothstein said. “He put up big numbers late last season when Duke had injury issues. Isaiah Evans should be on every national breakout list.”
The 19-year-old guard played 36 games (started in three) during his freshman year, averaging 6.8 points and 1.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 43.2% from the field, 41.6% from deep, and 81.3% from the free-throw line.
