DukieInBrasil
Member
That's 9! which is a fine number for this year's team, even though we seldom give 9 guys meaningful minutes. What, no Nik Khamenia love?The hope Evans comes back the thing for him is 2025 draft is loaded 2026 isn't so much. He could get some NIL money and then be a top 10 pick next year. I honestly hope our lineup looks like this next year.
Proctor/Boozer
Harris/ Foster
Evans/Ament
Boozer/Ament
Maliq/Ngbongo
I'd love for Tyrese to get so hot from here on out that he forces a team to draft him, but from what i've seen so far, it looks like he's a strong contender to return to Duke next year.
I guess being a generational talent ain't what it used to be...I disagree with your assessment about the current draft and the expected quality of the 2026 draft.
The very top of the 2025 draft looks good. Flagg is the clear #1 and following a year where there wasn't such a clear choice. After that, Harper is a good prospect and Bailey has obvious skills. As you get past the top 3-5 players, though, things get a lot thinner as far as the talent pool is concerned.
Looking at 2026, there are three absolute studs in AJ Dybantsa (who might be an even better long-term prospect than Flagg), Darren Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. Each of those three would go ahead of Harper if not Flagg.
Wouldn't that be pretty well obviated by the return of Proctor, Foster, Harris, Evans, Maliq, and Big Pat? I mean, why go to the portal for experience when you've got 11 years of returning playon the roster?Duke will lose at least five players (Mason, Sion, Cooper, Kon, and Khaman) from this year's roster. Adding the incoming freshman, the frontcourt could have Cameron, Nikolas, Pat, and Maliq. I don't think the last two are as sure a thing as many seem to be assuming. Yes, they would both have a significant role on next year's roster, but it may not be their desired role. Cameron will start at one frontcourt spot, and I could easily see Pat and Maliq wanting to be the other starter. Much like The Highlander, there can be only one. I can easily see Jon looking to add an additional frontcourt player via the portal.
The backcourt/wings could have Tyrese, Caleb, Isaiah, Darren, Cayden, Shelton, and potentially Nate. That is seven players for four, maybe five spots. It doesn't seem outlandish that there is some attrition, and unless there is significant attrition, I have a hard time seeing the need for a portal wing/guard.
I do think Jon loves what Sion, Mason, and Maliq have brought to this year's roster and would love to replicate it for next year's roster. I'm just not sure how he gets there without players accepting a much smaller role or spots opening up.