One could argue that coaching college basketball can be harder and more difficult than football given that you can lose your top player after a season. 

Duke lost two of them.

Cooper Flagg, who took on the basketball world by storm last season, was drafted first overall in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Not only that, Kon Knueppel was drafted fourth overall by the Charlotte Hornets.

But that’s not even all of it.

Because the Blue Devils also lost 7-footer Khaman Maluach to the Phoenix Suns, Tyrese Proctor to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Sion James to the Hornets.

There’s a whole lot of turnover at Cameron, but fear not, because reinforcements are joining The Brotherhood.

Cayden and Cameron Boozer. Recognize that last name?

The twin sons of Duke legend Carlos Boozer won’t exactly get to play for their dad’s former coach in Mike Kryzezewski, but it’ll be the prodigy of Coach K instead, Jon Scheyer.

The Boozer twins have dominated the high school level at their alma mater, Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. They ended up winning four consecutive state championships as well as a national championship. 

And with their dad being the 13-year NBA veteran that he was, they knew what was coming their way at the next level.

"The game's way faster, the game's more physical, and obviously, here at Duke, you're playing against the best players every day in practice," Cayden said. "I've definitely had a welcome to Duke moment where you just have a really bad day, but you just keep bouncing back. And you know that this is the reason you came here. So it's been a dream to really be here and just experience all the practices and all the things that come with Duke.”

Cameron, on the other hand, won an ESPY for the Gatorade Player of the Year, which is awarded to the best male high school athlete across all sports, and was ready for anything coming his way.

"I think I was ready coming to college. Obviously, there's been some days that are hard, but I think everyone goes through that when they first get to college. But it's been super great.

Also following them are incoming freshman Nikolas Khamenia, Dame Sarr, and Sebastian Wilkins. 

Khamenia was a five-star recruit from Los Angeles, and has an incredibly unique skill set. He’s a 6-foot-8 power forward whose main skills are his passing ability and the way he sees the game. Not only that, he’s a legit threat to score from anywhere on the court.

Sarr, also a five-star, previously played for FC Barcelona and is an elite athlete that can  send Cameron Indoor into a frenzy. He may not be Zion Williamson, but he can move around like a freight train with exceptional speed.

For Wilkins, he was a Duke fan growing up, so this is a dream come true for the freshman. He projects to be more of a 3-and-D type of player, similar to the role that James played last season.

With it being a new era in Duke basketball, the possibilities are endless and there’s a treasure trove of athletes coming in that have the chance to be difference makers from the jump.

Duke’s first game will be against Texas on November 4, with an 8:45 p.m. ET tip off.