Italian wing committed to Duke on Thursday, addressing a key roster need for head coach Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils. Standing at 6-foot-8 with an impressive 7-foot wingspan, Sarr is widely projected as a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft due to his elite athleticism, scoring touch, and defensive upside.
Sarr spent this season with Spanish powerhouse FC Barcelona, continuing a trend of high-level international talent entering college basketball in 2025–26 to take advantage of the sport’s growing financial incentives.
Recognized as one of the top European prospects born in 2006, Sarr raised his profile last summer with Italy’s U18 national team at FIBA EuroBasket in Finland, leading the squad in scoring (13.4 PPG) and assists (4.7 APG), while ranking second in rebounding (6.3 RPG).
During his time with FC Barcelona, Sarr showed promise in EuroLeague play—widely regarded as the top competition outside the NBA—before departing this spring to participate in the Nike Hoop Summit. Competing against elite American prospects, Sarr led the World Team with 17 points and drew praise for both his in-game performance and his work during practices.
“He’s incredibly versatile,” said one college coach who scouted Sarr last summer in Finland. “Long, athletic, and fluid—he can play anywhere from the one to the three. He thrives as a slasher and finisher.”
Duke ramped up its pursuit of Sarr amid increasing speculation that Washington State transfer Cedric Coward—who committed to Duke earlier this month—might remain in the NBA Draft following a standout showing at the Combine in Chicago. With Coward now projected as a possible first-round pick, Duke pivoted to Sarr, who had been leaning toward Kansas before the Blue Devils reengaged.
Scheyer is continuing his strategy of building a roster with elite length and positional size, a formula that made Duke the tallest team in college basketball last season. The upcoming Blue Devils squad is again expected to feature considerable height across the lineup.
Projected Starting Five for Duke:
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G Caleb Foster (6’5″)
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Wing Isaiah Evans (6’6″)
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Wing Dame Sarr (6’8″)
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F Cam Boozer (6’9″)
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F Maliq Brown (6’9″) or Patrick Ngongba (6’11”)
Duke is one of just five major programs projected to start five players all standing at least 6-foot-4.