Duke Lands Commitment From Australian Point Guard for 2027–28 Season

Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils have landed a major recruit in Australian point guard Luke Paul. Paul had signed a multi-year deal with the NBL Next Stars, but the Blue Devils have now landed him on their roster for the 2027-28 season.

The 6-foot-6 guard is very talented and is expected to be a first-round pick in the 2028 NBA Draft. He will now be a key piece for Duke's roster next season and will look to develop into one of the best players in college basketball.

"I want to get to the NBA and be a lottery pick, and I trust in their player development to get me there," Paul told ESPN. "In saying that, winning a national championship at Duke is the ultimate goal for me."

The Blue Devils have consistently developed stars that go on to have great careers in the NBA. Cooper Flagg is the latest example: he was the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and won Rookie of the Year, averaging 21 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 46.8 percent from the field and 29.5 percent from three.

Duke lands a ton of talented players thanks to the program's history, and they consistently help those players elevate their game to the next level before they enter the NBA.

Pau could be the next of those players, as he is a quality playmaker, scorer, and rebounder, making him a vital piece for the Blue Devils as they look to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. 

In the 2026 FIBA U17 World Cup, Paul played at a high level, averaging 15.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game. He showed he can contribute in many ways and could be Duke's lead ball-handler in the 2027-28 season.

The other commit the Blue Devils have landed for their 2027 class is Kager Knueppel, who is the younger brother of former Duke star Kon Knueppel. Kon had a strong rookie season in the NBA, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Flagg.

Kager had a strong junior season, averaging 16.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.

Scheyer's 2027 class is shaping up nicely so far with Paul and Knueppel, but they will need to continue adding talent to pursue their first title since the 2014-15 season.