The Duke Blue Devils are entering a transitional phase in their basketball program next season, as they part ways with several key players. Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Tyrese Proctor have all declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, leaving head coach Jon Scheyer with significant gaps to fill on the roster.
As Scheyer works to rebuild a team that just reached the Final Four, a bit of good news has emerged: a former top recruit is returning to the program. The team’s official social media account sparked excitement by tagging Isaiah Evans and asking, “yo Slim you back?”
Evans responded simply and clearly: “Yea.”
A former five-star recruit, Evans was ranked as the No. 4 small forward and the No. 15 overall player in the country by the 247Sports Composite. Despite his potential, there had been speculation about whether he would enter the NBA Draft or explore transfer options after a freshman season where he struggled to find consistent playing time.
Evans averaged 6.8 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.5 assists over 36 games, starting in three of them. He logged 13.7 minutes per game on a powerhouse Duke squad that finished the 2024–25 season with an impressive 35–4 record.