Duke will be one big body lighter at practice next season. Over the weekend, 7-foot center entered the transfer portal, marking the end of a four-year journey with the Blue Devils. The Turkish native wasn’t a regular in the rotation, but his impact on the program went beyond the box score.
He quickly became a fan favorite—not for dunks or buzzer-beaters, but for his iconic performance at Duke’s Countdown to Craziness. In his debut appearance, he stole the spotlight by flawlessly playing “Careless Whisper” on the saxophone, instantly cementing his place in Duke lore as the musically gifted big man with serious vibes.
On the court, his minutes were limited to five mop-up appearances across four seasons. He didn’t record a point in his Duke career, finishing with 3 rebounds, 1 block, 2 turnovers, 1 foul, and one missed field goal. But his role was invaluable behind the scenes—battling in practice, helping sharpen the skills of Duke’s elite talent day in and day out.
Borden arrived under the legendary Coach K and closed out his time under Jon Scheyer’s leadership. As of now, he’s the only Blue Devil to enter the portal this offseason—a mild departure for a program often hit hard by attrition. With Borden’s next chapter about to begin, Duke fans now shift their attention to the future—and what Cooper Flagg decides in the coming weeks.