Duke is coming off a season where many believed it would capture the men’s NCAA championship. However, the team’s title hopes were dashed in the Final Four with a shocking loss to Houston.
Freshman sensation Cooper Flagg, who had a standout season, is now bound for the NBA—likely as the No. 1 overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks. Teammates Khaman Maluach, a dominant presence in the paint, and sharpshooter Kon Knueppel are also projected to be selected early in next month’s draft.
Amidst the departures, Duke has secured a major addition in Dame Sarr, a highly regarded international prospect. The 6-foot-8 Italian native announced his commitment to the Blue Devils, turning down offers from other top programs like Kansas. On social media, he shared his reason for choosing Duke, writing, “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 playing organized basketball at six years old with Basket Oderzo in Italy. At 16, he joined FC Barcelona and eventually earned a spot on the first team. He participated in this year’s Nike Hoop Summit, which stirred controversy after FC Barcelona publicly objected, calling his appearance a breach of his contract. Following the incident, Sarr parted ways with the team in April.
Now, he’s headed to one of the most storied programs in college basketball as he aims to continue his development and take the next step in his career.