DURHAM — It could’ve been easy and understandable for Caleb Foster to seek a fresh start.
After a season-ending injury brought a halt to a promising freshman year with Duke basketball, Foster was in the starting lineup for the first seven games as a sophomore before being relegated to the bench as a reserve for the rest of the year.
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Following a rollercoaster experience, instead of joining a crowd of players in the transfer portal, Foster embraced the challenge and chose to stick it out with head coach Jon Scheyer and the Blue Devils for a third season. Duke, Boston University and Tennessee were the only programs that didn’t lose a scholarship player to the portal after the 2024-25 season.
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“I guess it could be easy for anybody to leave. The reality is, I think, now you’re making two-way decisions. Same thing for us. We could’ve gone in the transfer portal or (Foster) could’ve just said, ‘Man, I’m going somewhere else,’ ” Scheyer said during a press conference at Cameron Indoor Stadium on July 8.
“To me, it’s part of the journey. I’ve loved the conversations with Caleb, because it’s all about what he controls and what he has to do to make a bigger impact. It wasn’t about promises, it wasn’t about anything other than what he has to do, what he controls, and obviously the team we could potentially have. I’m just proud of him. He’s put his head down every day and worked. He’s talked a lot. He’s been more confident.”
Listed at 197 pounds as a sophomore, the 6-foot-5 Foster is up to 205 pounds, according to Duke’s official 2025-26 roster. The Harrisburg native averaged 6.3 points, 2 rebounds and 1.7 assists in nearly 20 minutes per game in his first two seasons. He’s a 37% shooter from 3-point range.
But his production and playing time waned last season. After averaging just more than 25 minutes as a freshman with 15 games as a starter, Foster averaged just more than 14 in his second season with seven games in the starting lineup.
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On April 17, in an episode of The Brotherhood Podcast, Foster – who usually serves as the host – is interviewed by former teammate Neal Begovich and asked about the decision to run it back with the Blue Devils.
“Self-reflection,” Foster said, was key as he went through the decision process, “learning where I went wrong and what I could’ve done better, and facing the problem head-on.” He referenced his “dreams of playing in the NBA” and Duke’s role in helping him accomplish that goal.
“This is the highest level of college basketball that you could possibly get,” Foster said. “I feel like I’m more than capable of doing that and being that guy. So, why not double down on myself and bet on myself?”
One of Foster’s lowest of lows preceded arguably his highest high of the 2024-25 season. In Duke’s home finale against Wake Forest, Foster was healthy and didn’t see the court for the first time in his career. He followed that with nine crucial second-half minutes at rival UNC, making several game-changing plays to help the Blue Devils win the regular-season finale.
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Foster was also, arguably, Duke’s steadiest option off the bench in the Final Four against Houston. He had four defensive rebounds – trailing only Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel in that category – and an assist in 13 minutes.
“Reflecting on last season, he came through with some big moments for us, the last game included – what he did in that game,” Scheyer said. “Really, all the tournament games, he made a big impact. I think, for him, this is what college is all about.”
Throughout the offseason, Duke has consistently shared social media posts highlighting Foster’s individual and team workouts. One of five returners around five freshmen, Foster’s improvement will be critical as the Blue Devils chase consecutive ACC championships and Final Four berths.
“Not everybody’s journey is gonna be like Cooper (Flagg). I know we had a unique thing this year with three guys (being drafted) right away in the top 10. That’s not the norm; it’s not,” Scheyer said.
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“So, I’m proud of (Foster) just staying the course, obstacles in the way, keep attacking it. I think great things will come from that.”
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke basketball: Why Caleb Foster stuck with Jon Scheyer, Blue Devils
