All Signs Point to Duke Missing on Elite Portal Big

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff are trying to navigate the chaos of the NCAA Transfer Portal while also gauging which key rotation pieces from the 2025-26 squad could potentially return.

So far, the Blue Devils have lost sophomore Darren Harris and freshman Nik Khamenia to the transfer portal. Maliq Brown is also out, as he has exhausted all of his eligibility, and Cameron Boozer, in all likelihood, will be declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft.

Mar 14, 2026; Charlotte, NC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Darren Harris (8) celebrates after a play against the Virginia Cavaliers during the men’s ACC Conference Tournament Championship at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba, Dame Sarr, Cayden Boozer, and Caleb Foster all have massive decisions to make that will obviously pay dividends in how Scheyer and Co. attack the remainder of the offseason.

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Duke has reportedly been in the mix for several talented big men in the portal, and recently lost out on Kansas transfer forward Flory Bidunga, the No. 1 overall player in the portal according to 247Sports. Bidunga ultimately committed to Louisville.

Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks forward Flory Bidunga (40) dunks against the St. John’s Red Storm in the second half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Now, it looks like the Blue Devils have missed on another of the portal’s top centers.

Mar 26, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer stands on the court during a practice session ahead of the east regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Duke Likely To Miss Out on Alabama Transfer Aiden Sherrell

Reports never surfaced that Duke was aggressively pursuing Alabama transfer Aiden Sherrell, but it was reported that it…

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Publish date : 2026-04-14 17:01:00

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