Duke entered last season with championship expectations, with many predicting a title run. However, those hopes were dashed with a surprising Final Four loss to Houston.
Star freshman Cooper Flagg is now headed to the NBA and is widely projected to be the No. 1 overall pick, likely by the Dallas Mavericks. Teammates Khaman Maluach, a dominant presence in the paint, and elite shooter Kon Knueppel are also expected to be early selections in the upcoming draft.
Amidst these transitions, Duke secured a major addition in international standout Dame Sarr. The 6-foot-8 Italian guard chose the Blue Devils over several other top programs, including Kansas, reinforcing Duke’s continued recruiting dominance.
Sarr made his decision public on social media, emphasizing Duke’s culture and community.
“The brotherhood is like one big family,” he wrote. “You can see that every player genuinely wants each other to succeed both on and off the court. As I talked with different people during my decision-making process, I only heard positive things about Duke. I feel extremely confident in Coach Scheyer’s vision for me and this program.”
Sarr’s basketball journey began at just six years old with Basket Oderzo in Italy. He advanced to FC Barcelona’s program at 16 and eventually earned a spot on the first-team roster. His talent gained broader attention when he played in this year’s Nike Hoop Summit—an appearance that stirred controversy. FC Barcelona had denied him permission to participate, later issuing a public statement calling it a breach of his contract.
Following the fallout, Sarr parted ways with the club in April. Now, he’s heading to one of college basketball’s most storied programs, ready to take the next step in his promising career.