Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell is withdrawing from the NBA draft and will play at Duke next season.
Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell has officially withdrawn from the 2026 NBA Draft and will continue his college career at Duke, giving the Blue Devils another major backcourt addition for the upcoming season.
Blackwell, a former Brother Rice (Michigan) standout, developed into one of Wisconsin’s most productive guards during his time in Madison. After entering the draft process and receiving feedback from NBA teams, he ultimately decided to return to college basketball rather than remain in the draft pool.
During his breakout season at Wisconsin, Blackwell emerged as a key offensive option, showing strong scoring instincts, improved perimeter shooting, and the ability to create shots off the dribble. His growth made him one of the more intriguing guard prospects in both the draft evaluation cycle and the transfer portal.
Duke quickly became the frontrunner once he entered the transfer market, and the Blue Devils ultimately secured his commitment. He is expected to bring immediate experience, shot creation, and perimeter scoring to a roster already loaded with talent and expected to compete for a national championship.
For Wisconsin, his departure is a significant loss, as he was one of their primary perimeter threats and a central piece of their recent rotation. For Duke, however, it is another example of how the modern college basketball landscape allows elite programs to reload quickly through the transfer portal and NBA draft withdrawals.
In short, Blackwell’s decision strengthens Duke’s championship outlook while leaving Wisconsin with a notable gap to fill in its backcourt for next season.
