Where does Duke rank in ESPN's way-too-early top 25 for next season?

The expectations at Duke are almost usually national championship or bust. That will be the case for Jon Scheyer’s squad next season after failing to get the job done this past year, losing to national runner-up UConn in the Elite Eight.

Despite the loss of Wooden Award winner Cameron Boozer, the Blue Devils are set up for another deep run in the NCAA Tournament as Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba return, along with transfers John Blackwell and Drew Scharnowski, while the second-ranked recruiting class in the nation, led by Cameron Williams and Bryson Howard, arrives to give Duke a loaded roster.

Over at ESPN, Jeff Borzello is already taking a way-too-early look at what the top 25 might look like when the 2026-27 college basketball season begins, and right up there near the top are Scheyer’s Blue Devils at No. 2.

“Duke's depth looks unparalleled at this point in the offseason. Though Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans are moving on to the NBA, the Blue Devils return Patrick Ngongba II and Dame Sarr, and Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer opted to stay in Durham. That's on top of the arrival of transfer John Blackwell, the best guard to enter the portal, and an elite recruiting class featuring three top-25 talents.