Duke entered last season with sky-high expectations, with many projecting them to win the men’s NCAA championship. However, those hopes were dashed with a shocking Final Four loss to Houston.
Star freshman Cooper Flagg, who shined throughout the season, is now heading to the NBA, likely as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks. Teammates Khaman Maluach, a dominant presence in the paint, and Kon Knueppel, known for his shooting prowess, are also projected to be early selections in the upcoming NBA draft.
Despite those departures, Duke is reloading with fresh talent, most notably landing a commitment from Dame Sarr, one of the top international prospects. The 6-foot-8 Italian standout chose the Blue Devils over other elite programs, including Kansas.
On social media, Sarr shared his reasoning for choosing Duke:
“The brotherhood is a big family. You can tell that every guy wants one another to succeed in basketball and in life, on and off the court. Making my decision, I spoke to a lot of people and heard only great things about this program. I feel very, very good about Duke and Coach Scheyer’s vision for me.”
Sarr began his basketball journey at age six with Basket Oderzo in Italy before moving to FC Barcelona’s youth program in 2022. He earned a spot on the first team this past season and also appeared in the Nike Hoop Summit. That appearance stirred controversy, as FC Barcelona had denied his request to participate and publicly criticized him for breaching team obligations.
Sarr ultimately parted ways with Barcelona in April. Now, he’s set to join one of college basketball’s most storied programs as he continues his rise in the sport.