Predicting Duke’s Leaders in 5 Major Statistical Categories

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff are entering the 2026-27 college basketball season looking to avenge this past season’s soul-crushing end at the hands of UConn in the Elite Eight.

Scheyer and Co. were intentional with building this incoming roster, blending elite freshman talent, roster continuity, and veteran experience. As a result, the Blue Devils have the deepest and most championship-ready team they’ve had under Scheyer.

Mar 26, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer shoots a ball 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, at least on paper, is one of the deepest teams in college basketball. Let’s try to predict the leaders in every major statistical category for the Blue Devils next season.

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell (25) drives against High Point Panthers guard Conrad Martinez (9) during the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

Points – John Blackwell

This is the easiest pick of the bunch. Blackwell, one of the top players in the transfer portal, will come to Durham as the go-to guy offensively, with a volume-scoring ability that could lead to a potential All-American-caliber season.

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As a junior with Wisconsin in 2025-26, Blackwell averaged over 19 points per game on 43.0% shooting from the field and 38.9% shooting from three on 7.3 attempts. The 6’4″ guard tallied 15 games of 20 or more points scored and five of 30 or more, including two straight in the Big Ten Tournament.

Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; Wisconsin Badgers guard Braeden Carrington (0) and guard John Blackwell (25) react during the second half of a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament against the High Point Panthers at Moda Center. Mandatory…

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Publish date : 2026-05-12 16:00:00

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