In a significant development for Duke basketball, the team has surged into the Top-20 of the transfer portal class rankings following a recent key addition.
Duke’s pursuit in the transfer market this offseason extended beyond mere talent acquisition, and it appears that Head Coach Jon Scheyer has found the missing pieces he sought.
The Blue Devils secured a commitment from Tulane guard Sion James, bolstering their roster alongside signees Syracuse center Maliq Brown and Purdue forward Mason Gillis.
Before James’ decision, Duke held the 45th spot in the national transfer portal class rankings, as per 247Sports. However, with James on board, they’ve swiftly ascended to the 18th position.
Initially, the duo of Brown and Gillis had positioned Duke at 27th, but a prolonged period without further additions saw other teams leapfrog them in the rankings.
Early indications suggest that James will play a pivotal role in the upcoming season, not only providing depth as a guard alongside Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster but also offering additional ball-handling skills. Furthermore, James brings elite athleticism and defensive versatility, capable of guarding multiple positions on the court—qualities shared by Brown and Gillis in their respective positions.
While Duke still has two vacant scholarships, it’s unlikely they’ll make further additions to the roster in terms of impact players. There’s a possibility that Scheyer might opt to reward a walk-on with a scholarship, mirroring his actions before last season with Spencer Hubbard.
Currently, Duke leads the ACC in transfer class rankings, edging out NC State at the 19th spot.
Meanwhile, North Carolina, despite the addition of Belmont guard Cade Tyson, remains relatively subdued in the transfer market, sitting at 99th nationally and 15th in the league.
Surprisingly, newcomers California and SMU boast higher-ranked transfer classes than the Tar Heels.
While the rankings may fluctuate as other programs finalize their transfer acquisitions, it’s evident that Jon Scheyer has navigated the transfer portal effectively this offseason, positioning Duke for success in the upcoming campaign.
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