Duke 2024-25 roster: Tulane’s Sion James commits to Blue Devils out of transfer portal

Duke landed its third dedication from the transfer portal on Friday in Tulane star guard Sion James. The 6-foot-4 guard advised 247Sports that he’s withdrawing his identify from the 2024 NBA Draft — opening the trail to be a part of the Blue Devils forward of the 2024-25 season. 

“I chose Duke because it gives me a chance to impact winning and compete under the brightest lights in college basketball,” James told 247Sports. “I get to work with a talented, experienced staff that knows how to win games and develop players, and I get to play with some of the most talented players in the country.”

Last month, Duke added Purdue sharpshooter Mason Gillis. The 6-foot-6 ahead performed a essential function within the Boilermakers reaching the Final Four for the primary time since 1980. He might discover himself positioned to earn a beginning function with the Blue Devils after coming off the bench throughout the 2023-24 marketing campaign.

The information of Gillis’ dedication got here days after Duke landed a pledge from Syracuse ahead Maliq Brown.

The Blue Devils have misplaced seven gamers to the transfer portal: Jeremy Roach, Mark Mitchell, TJ Power, Jaylen Blakes, Christian Reeves, Jaden Schutt, and Stewart. Duke stars Kyle Filipowski and Jared McCain declared for the 2024 NBA Draft earlier this month. Both gamers are within the dialog to be lottery picks this summer season.

Year 3 of the Jon Scheyer at Duke will look drastically totally different. The Blue Devils returned 4 starters forward of the 2023-24 marketing campaign and reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the primary time within the post-Mike Krzyzewski period. With the top-ranked recruiting class arriving, expectations for the Blue Devils will stay sky-high.

Duke’s beginning backcourt throughout the 2024-25 season is shaping up to be a pair of returners in Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster. Proctor bypassed the 2023 NBA Draft to return to college for his sophomore season and determined to return for one more season to elevate his inventory forward of subsequent summer season’s draft.

Foster was a extremely touted recruit in Duke’s 2023 recruiting class that ranked No. 2 within the 247Sports rankings behind Kentucky. With McCain and Roach not with this system, the door is open for Foster to tackle a bigger function forward of subsequent season.

CBS Sports is monitoring the standing of the Duke roster and recruiting class in actual time. Here’s the place each present Duke participant and commit at present stand.

Incoming transfers

Mason Gillis (Transfer from Purdue)

GP: 39 | GS: 0 | PPG: 6.5 | RPG: 3.9

Gillis was one of the extra underrated gamers within the transfer portal. Gillis might have an opportunity to begin subsequent to Proctor, Foster, Flagg, and Maluach. Gillis ranked because the No. 64 total participant within the CBS Sports Transfer Portal Rankings. Gillis shot 46.8% from distance on 3.2 makes an attempt per night time. He will present invaluable capturing for Duke after McCain departed this system for the NBA.

Maliq Brown (Transfer from Syracuse)

GP: 32 | GS: 18 | PPG: 9.5 | RPG: 7.2

After spending the final two seasons at Syracuse, Brown entered the transfer portal and dedicated to Duke shortly after. Brown began 18 video games this previous season for the Orange and ought to be a invaluable rotation piece this upcoming season. Brown, Gillis and Proctor are at present the one upperclassmen on the Duke roster.

Sion James (Transfer from Tulane)

GP: 31 | GS: 30 | PPG: 14.0 | RPG: 5.4

James has appeared in 114 video games in his four-year profession at Tulane. James shot a powerful 38.1% from distance on a career-high 3.6 makes an attempt per sport. James ought to have a possibility to compete for large minutes instantly due to McCain and Roach each departing this system.

Duke gamers anticipated to return

Tyrese Proctor 

GP: 32 | GS: 25 | PPG: 10.5 | APG: 3.7

Proctor would be the most skilled participant on the Duke roster subsequent season (pending any veteran additions by way of the transfer portal). Proctor had an up-and-down season, which included lacking a handful of video games due to varied accidents. Proctor got here off the bench seven instances in his 32 whole appearances and can play a key function in merging expertise with the six first-year gamers on the roster.

Caleb Foster 

GP: 27 | GS: 15 | PPG: 7.7 | RPG: 2.4

The No. 23 total participant within the 2023 recruiting class confirmed flashes of his four-star billing final season. Foster was dominated out of the NCAA Tournament due to a stress fracture in his ankle and missed the earlier 5 video games with the identical damage. Foster is the one participant (at present) remaining from Duke’s star-studded 2023 recruiting class.

Duke gamers not anticipated to return

Jared McCain (Declared for NBA Draft)

GP: 36 | GS: 36 | PPG: 14.3 | RPG: 5.0

McCain was Duke’s greatest 3-point shooter this previous season. He completed the season connecting on 41.4% of his photographs from distance on 5.8 makes an attempt per sport. While McCain might be thought-about undersized on the combo guard place, he makes up for it along with his tenacious rebounding means. McCain recorded at the very least 5 rebounds in 19 of the 36 video games he performed in. He tasks as a lottery/mid-first-round choose this summer season.

Kyle Filipowski (Declared for NBA Draft)

GP: 36 | GS: 36 | PPG: 16.4 | RPG: 8.3

Filipowski proved to be a gradual presence for Scheyer throughout his two seasons in Durham. He began all 72 video games for the Blue Devils and earned ACC Rookie of the Year as a freshman and second-team All-American honors from CBS Sports this previous season. Filipowski is one other participant who tasks as a lottery/mid-first-round choose this summer season.

Jeremy Roach (In transfer portal)

GP: 35 | GS: 35 | PPG: 14.0 | APG: 3.3

Roach spent the primary 4 seasons of his school profession with Duke and was a key contributor on Duke’s final Final Four workforce throughout the 2021-22 season. After averaging a career-high 14 factors per sport on 42.9% capturing from distance, Roach elected to enter the transfer portal and play his closing season elsewhere. There ought to be a lot of suitors for his providers.

Mark Mitchell (Committed to Missouri)

GP: 33 | GS: 32 | PPG: 11.6 | RPG: 6.0

After beginning 67 video games during the last two seasons with the Blue Devils, the previous five-star recruit entered the transfer portal. Mitchell ranked because the No. 6 player in the CBS Sports Transfer Rankings and should help Missouri bounce again from an 0-18 displaying in SEC play.

TJ Power (In transfer portal)

GP: 26 | GS: 0 | PPG: 2.1 | RPG: 0.7

The former No. 17 total recruit within the 2023 cycle appeared in 26 video games throughout his first season with Duke. Power entered the transfer portal earlier this week.

Sean Stewart (In transfer portal)

GP: 33| GS: 0 | PPG: 2.6 | RPG: 3.2

The former No. 22 total recruit within the 2023 cycle appeared in 33 video games throughout his first season with Duke. He entered the transfer portal on Friday.

Jaylen Blakes (In transfer portal)

GP: 31| GS: 1 | PPG: 1.8 | RPG: 0.8

Blakes spent the primary three seasons with Duke and made 31 appearances in consecutive seasons. Blakes ranked as a three-star recruit from the 2021 cycle.

Christian Reeves (In transfer portal)

GP: 3 | GS: 0 | PPG: 1.7 | RPG: 1.7

Reeves spent the primary two seasons with Duke and made 16 whole appearances. Reeves ranked as a three-star recruit from the 2022 cycle.

Jaden Schutt (In transfer portal)

GP: 0 | GS: 0 | PPG: 0 | RPG: 0

Schutt used a redshirt season after present process knee surgical procedure. He averaged 2.1 factors in 14 whole video games as a freshman.

Ryan Young (Out of eligibility)

GP: 36 | GS: 2 | PPG: 2.8 | RPG: 3.4

The former Northwestern transfer is out of eligibility. Young spent the final two seasons with Duke and was a key backup middle for the workforce.

Duke’s incoming recruiting class

Duke’s 2024 recruiting class is loaded. It all begins with five-star ahead Cooper Flagg, who is taken into account one of the perfect highschool prospects in fairly a while. The Blue Devils have six first-year gamers arriving on campus, which incorporates 4 five-stars and 5 gamers inside the highest 20 of the 247Sports rankings. Five-star middle Khaman Maluach, the No. 3 total participant in his class, dedicated late within the cycle from NBA Academy Africa to give the Blue Devils much more firepower. Flagg and Maluach ought to begin within the frontcourt subsequent to Proctor and Foster.

Here is a take a look at Duke’s incoming recruiting class with 247Sports rankings.

No. 1 Cooper Flagg

Flagg is the perfect two-way prospect within the nation and the highest total highschool participant in America regardless of class or place. Flagg ought to slot in instantly with the Blue Devils as a result of he’s an engaged defender that makes use of his measurement to block photographs across the rim and he crashes the boards arduous on each ends. On offense, Flagg has proven he generally is a three-level scorer and has a killer intuition that makes him one of the extra intriguing prospects in a while.

No. 3 Khaman Maluach 

The newest dedication from Duke’s recruiting class might be in line to begin at middle this season. The 7-foot-1, 250-pound huge man dedicated to Duke over Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA, and extra. Maluach ought to pair exceptionally properly subsequent to Flagg within the frontcourt as a result of they will each perform a little bit of every part.

No. 12 Isaiah Evans 

With a spot within the beginning lineup open (assuming Proctor, Foster, Flagg, and Maluach are the opposite starters), Evans might have an opportunity to be the fifth and closing starter. The five-star wing dedicated to Duke over Florida State, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Memphis, and Tennessee.

No. 17 Kon Knueppel 

The five-star ahead ought to get consideration to begin at SF, relying on how Duke elects to fill the remaining spots on the roster. The top-ranked participant from the state of Wisconsin dedicated to Duke over Wisconsin, Alabama, Virginia, and Marquette.

No. 18 Patrick Ngongba ll

Ngongba signed with Duke over UConn, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan, and extra. The five-star middle was sidelined earlier in his highschool season after having profitable foot surgical procedure in November. He tasks as a possible backup to Flagg and Maluach.

No. 51 Darren Harris 

Harris was the primary participant from the 2024 recruiting cycle to commit to Duke. The 6-foot-6 wing is thought for his 3-point capturing. He dedicated to the Blue Devils over George Mason, Georgetown, Maryland, Virginia Tech, and extra.