Duke basketball is officially out of the running for one of the top guards in the transfer portal, as Princeton transfer Xaivian Lee has excluded the Blue Devils from his final list of schools. Lee will instead choose between Florida, Kansas, and St. John’s.
While Duke initially showed strong interest in Lee, they are now shifting focus to other backcourt options to replace key departures from the 2024-25 roster.
Lee, who played three seasons at Princeton, earned First Team All-Ivy League honors in both 2024 and 2025. The 6’4″, 180-pound guard posted impressive numbers this past season, averaging 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43.9% from the field and 36.6% from beyond the arc. He set career highs across several statistical categories in 2024-25.
Ranked No. 33 overall and the No. 7 point guard in the transfer portal according to On3’s Transfer Portal Industry Rankings, Lee was seen as a major potential addition for the Blue Devils.
Now, head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff will explore other avenues to reshape the backcourt for 2025-26. Duke is expected to lose most, if not all, of its guards from last season: Sion James has no remaining eligibility, Tyrese Proctor is likely headed to the NBA, and both Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans are weighing options that could include the transfer portal or turning pro. Evans is considered a possible 2025 NBA Draft prospect.
However, there’s still potential for Duke to make a late addition to its 2025 recruiting class. Four-star point guard Acaden Lewis, who recently decommitted from Kentucky after initially picking them over Duke and UConn, is back on the market—and Duke reportedly remains in contention.
So far, the Blue Devils’ offseason has been quiet, with no major player decisions finalized. While projected top draft picks Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach are expected to leave for the NBA, several other players are still considering their options. That said, decisions are expected to start rolling in soon.