Duke Secures Top International Recruit Dame Sarr Amid NBA Departures

Duke basketball continues to build a powerhouse recruiting class for the 2025 season, highlighted by the commitment of Dame Sarr, a 6-6 shooting guard from Italy and FC Barcelona, who chose Duke over Kansas. Sarr, rated the No. 17 player in the 2025 class and expected to be a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, cited Duke's preparation for the NBA and its competitive environment as key reasons for his decision. Duke coach Jon Scheyer has maintained a strong roster by retaining key returning players like Caleb Foster and Isaiah Evans while adding top recruits like Sarr and Cameron Boozer, despite losing NBA-bound talents such as Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel. Flagg is projected as the likely first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, while Knueppel is considered a strong candidate for the eighth pick, with NBA scouts seeing him as a valuable addition. This influx of talent reflects Duke's continued dominance on the recruiting trail and its ability to replenish NBA-caliber players year after year.