Duke basketball has seen minimal movement from its key players this offseason, with most of the core rotation still undecided on whether they’ll return, transfer, or enter the NBA Draft.
One decision came recently, as standout freshman guard Kon Knueppel announced he will declare for the NBA Draft. However, Duke received some positive news with Caleb Foster confirming his return for the 2025-26 season.
“Hey Duke fans, it’s C-Fos [Caleb Foster],” Foster said on The Brotherhood Podcast. “I’ve said before on past podcasts that growing up, I always dreamed of chasing championships at Duke. That hasn’t changed, and I’m thrilled to say I’ll be coming back for my junior year to keep striving for that sixth national title.”
Foster’s return is a major boost for the Blue Devils, especially with the backcourt expected to take significant hits. Sion James has exhausted his eligibility, Tyrese Proctor is likely NBA-bound, and Isaiah Evans still faces a big decision between returning, transferring, or declaring for the draft.
Heading into the 2024-25 season, Foster was viewed as a breakout candidate, but that potential didn’t fully materialize. He opened the season as a starter but eventually lost his spot to James and spent a good portion of the latter half of the season on the bench.
Despite that setback, Foster demonstrated strong maturity, eventually earning back playing time during the postseason. In Duke’s five NCAA Tournament games, he averaged 4.6 points and 2 assists, logging double-digit minutes in four contests. Though his stats weren’t eye-popping, his energy and presence were felt on both ends of the floor.
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In the heartbreaking Final Four loss to Houston, Foster’s absence in the second half surprised many fans, especially after he logged 13 minutes, four rebounds, and an assist in the first half.
Now, Foster has a chance to reignite his breakout campaign and take on a central role in a Duke team that still has its eyes on a national title. Barring any unexpected additions from the transfer portal, he’s likely to be Jon Scheyer’s starting point guard next season.