Analyst Not Impressed With Incoming Duke Basketball Freshman

We are still a few months away from the start of the 2026-27 college basketball season but the excitement for the Duke Blue Devils is high. Jon Scheyer's roster will have a new look to it, but does have some talented players returning. 

Following a disappointing end to their season a year ago, Duke is hoping to bounce back and get to the Final Four again. Ahead of the season, the Blue Devils are being considered as one of the top teams in the country. That's thanks to the roster that Scheyer and his staff have built.

Among the newcomers is freshman Cameron Williams, a power forward who was ranked in the top five by 247Sports. He's part of Duke's top recruiting class for the 2026 cycle and is already being projected as a first-round pick for the 2027 NBA Draft.

However, not everyone is as high on Williams in terms of his draft stock. 

Jamie Shaw of On3 wrote on NBA draft prospects in college, naming some he's higher on than most as well as players he's lower on than most. Among the players he's lower on is Williams.

Here is what Shaw said about Williams: 

I get it. The positional size, intriguing athletic traits, and the shooting touch; it is all there, front and center with Cam Williams. I am intrigued to see how it looks at Duke this season. He did a lot of his work away from the basket in high school, shooting over the top of most players he stepped on the floor with. He played a little upright, oftentimes losing leverage, and he was an inconsistent rebounder and poor defender. Yes, Williams should play in the league. The traits are there. He is listed at 7-foot-0, and he does have shooting touch from beyond the arc. Does he progress enough with his game to warrant a top-10 pick? He could get there; the traits are unique and desired. For right now, though, in the 2027 NBA Draft he would be outside of my top-10.

Williams is a very intriguing player as he is being ranked in or near the top 10 in terms of draft rankings. He should have a role early on for Duke but it will be fun watching him and how he develops.

Let's hope Williams can improve his draft stock as the season goes on.