CBS Sports analyst Isaac Trotter has updated his list of the top college basketball players for the 2026-27 season.
The Duke Blue Devils enter this upcoming 2026-27 college basketball season as one of the favorites, once again. As fans have been accustomed to Duke being one of the favorites, it's really no surprise they are again this year.
Jon Scheyer and his staff have done a good job building this roster. They welcomed back some top talent as well as bringing in the No. 1 overall recruiting class and a good transfer portal class. This roster may not have a Cooper Flagg or a Cameron Boozer but the collective talent could be as good as Scheyer has had so far while at Duke.
While we are still just over a month away from the start of the season, practices are already underway. One college basketball analyst showed some love to some Blue Devils as well.
CBS Sports' Isaac Trotter updated his list of the top college basketball players for the upcoming season. But it's not just any list. The positions are specific as he lists positions like off-ball wings, combo guards, initiator point guards, and bruiser four among other positions. It's an interesting way to look at things rather than just a general ranking.
For Duke, Trotter had six Blue Devils on his list. Patrick Ngongba II, Dame Sarr, and John Blackwell placed among the top five in their respective groups via the list. Cayden Boozer, and freshmen Cameron Williams and Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje were also on the list.
Leading the way for Duke was Patrick Ngongba II who was ranked No. 2 among true fives, behind only Mo Krivas of Arizona. Ngongba is coming off a big season and opted to return for his third year.
He started in 28 of his 32 games played, averaging 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 blocks last year. That earned him All-ACC honorable mention.
Sarr was ranked third among off-ball wings as he has developed into one of the best perimeter defenders in the game. He's back for another season and should be a key starter for the Blue Devils.
Boumtje Boumtje was ranked eighth in the 'small ball five' category. Duke has high hopes for the freshman who they landed as an overseas prospect and we could see a good rotation with him and Ngongba based on what Scheyer wants to do.
Williams checked in at No. 10 among the stretch fours as he goes into his first season.
As for the backcourt, Boozer was ranked 11th in the initiator point guard rankings while the newcomer, Blackwell, was ranked fifth among true shooting guards.
