Who’s Going To Start For Duke? Breaking Down the Blue Devils’ Lineup Options
The Duke Blue Devils enter the upcoming college basketball season with perhaps one of the most talented and versatile rosters in the country. Head coach Jon Scheyer has been steadily building his own identity in Durham following the legendary tenure of Mike Krzyzewski, and with each recruiting class, the expectations for Duke remain championship-level. As always, one of the biggest questions fans want answered heading into the season is simple: Who will start for Duke?
Recently, CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno offered his prediction for Duke’s starting five, listing Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Cameron Boozer, Patrick Ngongba, and Dame Sarr as the projected starters. On paper, that’s a powerful lineup, blending athleticism, shooting, and defensive potential. But as with most preseason projections, things aren’t quite so clear-cut. Early practices and offseason reports suggest there’s real competition at nearly every position, which means Scheyer has a wealth of options to choose from.
Let’s take a deeper dive into each projected starter, the challengers waiting in the wings, and the possible rotations that could define Duke’s season.
The Near Locks: Boozer, Evans, and Ngongba
While some spots in the lineup remain fluid, three names appear almost certain to hear their names called on opening night: Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, and Patrick Ngongba.
Cameron Boozer, the son of former Duke standout Carlos Boozer, arrives as one of the most hyped recruits in recent memory. A skilled forward with size, vision, and an advanced offensive game, Boozer has the chance to be Duke’s go-to scorer right away. He can stretch the floor, post up smaller defenders, and facilitate for teammates. His all-around versatility makes him too valuable to keep off the floor, and barring injury, he should be a centerpiece of the Blue Devils’ attack.
Isaiah Evans is another player who is expected to make an immediate impact. At 6-foot-7 with length and athleticism, Evans brings perimeter scoring and defensive versatility. Reports out of practice suggest that he has adjusted quickly to the college level, showing flashes of shot-making and the ability to guard multiple positions. For a Duke team that thrives on wings who can play both ends, Evans checks every box.
Patrick Ngongba, meanwhile, solidifies the interior. A physical presence in the paint, Ngongba provides rebounding, rim protection, and toughness—elements that every championship-caliber team needs. He may not be asked to score 15 points a night, but his value comes from doing the dirty work and anchoring the defense. Ngongba’s consistency and effort give him a strong case to be the starting center from day one.
The Backcourt Puzzle: Foster, Sarr, and the Boozer Twin Dynamic
Where things get truly interesting is in the backcourt. Salerno’s prediction has Caleb Foster at point guard and Dame Sarr at shooting guard, but both spots remain unsettled.
Foster has reportedly been outstanding in practice. His confidence, which wavered at times last season, appears to be back. He’s attacking the paint, making smart decisions, and showing the type of leadership that Duke desperately needs from the point guard spot. The one knock against Scheyer’s short tenure has been the lack of a truly elite point guard—something that defined the Krzyzewski years. If Foster continues his upward trajectory, he could be the answer.
But standing in his way is Cayden Boozer, Cameron’s twin brother and another talented floor general. Cayden brings a slightly different style, with an emphasis on pace, vision, and creativity. Having two capable point guards pushing each other in practice may be the best possible scenario for Duke. Iron sharpens iron, and if both elevate their games, Scheyer might have the luxury of alternating or even pairing them together depending on matchups.
At shooting guard, Dame Sarr is a fascinating case. At 6-foot-8, he offers size and versatility rarely seen at the two-guard position. His offensive game is well-rounded, with the ability to score off the dribble, knock down jumpers, and use his length to attack mismatches. However, there’s a growing sense that Sarr could thrive in a sixth-man role, similar to how Mike Dunleavy contributed as a freshman under Coach K. Bringing Sarr off the bench could give Duke a dynamic spark plug capable of playing multiple positions and relieving starters when foul trouble arises.
The Other Names to Watch
Beyond the projected starters, Duke’s roster is stacked with talent that could force Scheyer’s hand throughout the season.
Maliq Brown: A versatile forward who can defend multiple positions, Brown is likely to split time with Ngongba. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he’ll provide energy, defense, and rebounding.
Darren Harris: One of the best shooters on the team, Harris is reportedly much improved from last season. His ability to space the floor could make him too valuable to leave on the bench, especially if Duke struggles with outside shooting early in the year.
Nik Khamenia: Known for his passing ability, Khamenia could be a glue guy who makes the offense flow smoothly. Pairing him with other creative passers like Boozer and Ngongba could unlock a different dimension to Duke’s offense.
Sebastian Wilkins: A bruising forward who brings physicality, Wilkins has apparently exceeded expectations in preseason workouts. His toughness could earn him meaningful minutes, particularly in matchups where Duke needs strength inside.
What It All Means
The luxury for Jon Scheyer is that he doesn’t need to lock himself into one rigid lineup this early. With so much talent and depth, Duke can experiment with different combinations depending on the opponent. Some nights, a more traditional lineup with Foster running point and Sarr at the two may work best. On other nights, a smaller, faster lineup featuring both Boozer twins could give Duke an edge.
The key will be balance—finding the right mix of scoring, defense, and leadership. For all the hype surrounding this team, the question remains whether Duke can finally solve the point guard riddle that has plagued them in recent years. If Foster or Cayden Boozer emerges as a true floor general, the Blue Devils’ ceiling rises dramatically.
What’s certain is that Duke’s depth gives them flexibility few teams in the country can match. Scheyer may have some tough decisions to make, but they’re the kind of problems every coach dreams of having.
Final Thoughts
So, who’s going to start for Duke? The safest bet is that Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, and Patrick Ngongba are locks. Caleb Foster has the inside track at point guard, though Cayden Boozer lurks as a challenger. Dame Sarr might start, but his greatest value could come as a sixth man. And behind them all lies a bench filled with players capable of stepping into starting roles if needed.
