In addition to the transfers already in progress, Duke basketball is experiencing the departure of two more players to the professional realm. Last week, sophomore center Christian Reeves initiated his move by entering the transfer portal, marking the first exit for Duke basketball this offseason. Following suit earlier this week was sophomore forward Mark Mitchell.
On Friday, two more Blue Devils announced their choice to forego their remaining college eligibility by declaring early for the NBA Draft. Freshman guard Jared McCain disclosed his decision late Friday morning through a video message on social media, followed shortly after by sophomore forward Kyle Filipowski, who is seen as a potential lottery pick by some analysts.
Filipowski and McCain, the leading scorers for the 2023-24 Duke basketball team with averages of 16.4 and 14.3 points per game respectively, were the only players to participate in and start every game for the Blue Devils. Despite their contributions, Duke concluded the season with a 27-9 record overall, reaching the Elite Eight before succumbing to NC State in Dallas.
Currently, the Duke basketball program boasts 13 potential scholarship players for the 2024-25 season, including six incoming freshmen and seven 2023-24 Blue Devils who still have eligibility remaining and have not yet entered the transfer portal or declared for the draft. However, it’s likely that head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff will see some of these potential returnees opt for the transfer portal, necessitating replacement with transfers. So far, only sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor has confirmed his intention to stay with the team.
