Durham, NC - As the dust begins to settle on another college basketball season, Duke's men's basketball program is navigating the shifting landscape of the transfer portal. Following a campaign that ended with an Elite Eight exit, coach Jon Scheyer faces the task of retooling a roster that has already seen departures. Sophomore guard Darren Harris and freshman Nikolas Khamenia have both entered the transfer portal, marking the first exits from the Duke program this cycle. The Blue Devils, coming off a 35-3 record, ACC regular-season and tournament titles, now turn their attention to both outgoing and incoming talent.
The program is reportedly exploring potential additions through the portal, with a particular focus on bolstering its frontcourt. John Blackwell, a guard from Wisconsin, is reportedly considering Duke alongside Illinois. Additionally, Kansas big man Flory Bidunga is slated to visit Louisville and Duke. These pursuits come as the team has also secured a highly-rated recruiting class for the 2026-27 season, featuring prospects like five-star forward Cameron Williams and five-star point guard Deron Rippey Jr., among others.
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The departures of Harris and Khamenia signal a period of change for the storied program. Harris, a sophomore, averaged 3.3 points per game in 9.6 minutes. Khamenia, a freshman guard/forward, contributed 5.7 points and 3.3 rebounds over 19.8 minutes off the bench. This marks a departure from the previous year, where Duke saw minimal movement in the portal and only added one player, Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, who was hampered by injury. Scheyer has indicated an expectation of more active engagement in the portal this season. The transfer portal window, which opened on April 7th, will remain open until April 21st, a tight timeframe for roster adjustments.
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