Way-Too-Early Duke 2026-27 Starting Lineup Projection

For the second consecutive season, the Duke basketball program and its fans saw the season end in absolute heartbreaking fashion. This time around, the 1-seed Blue Devils crumbled in the Elite Eight against 2-seed UConn, ultimately falling 73-72 after holding a lead once as big as 19.

Nonetheless, head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff still have to shift to offseason mode to rebuild for the 2026-27 campaign. This offseason for the Duke program is a little different, as there are several key pieces from this past year's team who could realistically make a return to Durham, head to the NBA, or hit the transfer portal.

Mar 26, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer speaks with the media during a press conference 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

The next several weeks will be a very interesting time for the Blue Devils to figure out how deep Scheyer and Co. need to go in the portal. Before all the roster turnover ensues around college basketball, let's predict Duke's 2026-27 starting five.

Mar 27, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer reacts in the first half during a Sweet Sixteen game 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

PG: Deron Rippey Jr. - Freshman

Deron Rippey Jr. is a part of Duke's No. 1 overall 2026 recruiting class and is rated as the No. 1 point guard in the country according to the 247Sports 2026 Composite Rankings. The 6'2", 175-pound floor general comes from Blair Academy (NJ).

Rippey is a high-level athlete who fits the mold of a Duke point guard perfectly. He's extremely physical and, despite being a little smaller than a typical Blue Devil guard in the Scheyer era, can defend the perimeter at a high level. His jump shot has improved, but it's his motor and defensive instincts that set him apart.

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Caleb Foster (1) and UConn Huskies forward Jayden Ross (23) go for the ball in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

SG: Caleb Foster - Senior

Foster has typically run the point during his college career, but he could benefit from playing off the ball and taking more rhythm shots. The North Carolina native boasted a major bounce-back junior campaign, tallying career-highs in points per game (8.3), rebounds per game (3.5), assists per game (2.8), and field goal percentage (44.7), while shooting 39.8% from three on 3.0 attempts a contest.

The 6'5" guard hasn't generated a ton of NBA Draft buzz, but could enter the 2026-27 campaign as one of the best guards in college basketball. Foster is an extremely physical defender, can score in a ton of different ways, and rarely makes mistakes. He'd be a critical veteran presence.

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) shoots the ball against the UConn Huskies in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

SF: Dame Sarr - Sophomore

Dame Sarr came over to college basketball after playing professionally for FC Barcelona, and entered the 2025-26 campaign with first-round buzz in the 2026 draft. However, that hasn't really panned out.

Sarr has been extremely productive, but it's clear that another year in college would greatly benefit the Italian wing. At 6'8", Sarr was a consistent starter as one of the Blue Devils' most disruptive perimeter defenders. He came into college regarded as a talented outside shooter, but struggled to find the consistency to turn NBA general managers' heads.

Mar 29, 2026; Washington, DC, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Dame Sarr (7) reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies in the first half during an Elite Eight game of the East Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Across action in 15 Euro League games and another 12 in Liga ACB, Sarr shot 44.8% from the perimeter. With Duke, he shot the three-ball at just a 32.3% clip on 3.5 attempts. Sarr has shown flashes of an elite long-term 3-and-D NBA prospect, but another year in college to bulk up, handle contact a bit better, and improve the three-point shot will pay dividends.

St. Mary’s forward Cameron Williams (1) shoots against Sunnyslope forward Darius Wabbington (21) during the Open Boys Championship game at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix on March 7, 2026. | Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

PF - Cameron Williams - Freshman

Williams is the highest-rated recruit in the Blue Devils' 2026 recruiting class, ranked No. 2 overall in the nation by the 247Sports 2026 Composite Rankings. The 6'11", 200-pound big man hails from St. Mary's High School (AZ).

The 5-star talent has a ton of development to go before he's a finished product, but his ceiling down the line might be the highest of any 2026 recruit. Williams has established an ability to shoot the three and create his own shot off the dribble, while being a reliable defensive anchor in the paint.

7FT All American Duke signee Cameron Williams is a Big Guard!! He went off for 32 points in the first round of the Az state playoffs. pic.twitter.com/W9zkCIoL7N
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) February 19, 2026

Williams' game is completely different from that of Cameron Boozer, but he will likely fill the 2025-26 National Player of the Year's shoes.

Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer watches down court Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the Siena Saints at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. | Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

C - Portal Commit

The center position for Duke in 2026-27 is a complete mystery. Patrick Ngongba is a projected first-round 2026 draft selection around the 24-30 range, so there's a chance he elects to return to college. However, in a very weak center draft, his stock will likely never be as high as it is right now, especially with his injury history.

Beyond Ngongba, Maliq Brown is graduating, and incoming 4-star seven-footer Maxime Meyer will likely not be ready to start right away. If there's one position Scheyer and his staff will need to get active in the portal with, it's center.