DURHAM — It’s almost football season, but it’s always basketball season in North Carolina.
Duke basketball offered its fans a chance to get a glimpse of the 2025-26 Blue Devils during an open practice on Aug. 5 inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Advertisement
Before the doors opened at 5 p.m., there was a lengthy line of fans outside in rainy weather, including several who showed up around 1 to snag a spot at the front of the pack. Fourth-year head coach Jon Scheyer walked out to greet those supporters, with some traveling from California, Idaho, Illinois and Tennessee for a taste of Duke basketball in the summer.
“It’s only August 5, so we got a lot to work on,” Scheyer said after his team practiced for nearly an hour and a half on Coach K Court. Pointing to the opportunity to show “great growth,” Scheyer commended his reloaded roster for the work they’ve put in throughout the offseason.
‘SLIM’ STAYS: Jon Scheyer’s conversations with Isaiah Evans about NBA Draft, coming back to Duke basketball
STICKING WITH DUKE: Duke basketball’s Jon Scheyer proud Caleb Foster is ‘staying the course’ with Blue Devils
Advertisement
TOP BLUE DEVILS SINCE 2000: Top Duke basketball players since 2000, including JJ Redick, Zion Williamson
With Scheyer looking on, assistant coaches Emanuel Dildy and Tyler Thornton coached the Blue team, which finished with a 2-1 record in the three scrimmages. Associate head coach Chris Carrawell and assistant coach Evan Bradds led the White team.
For a group that includes five returners and five talented freshmen, here’s what stood out during the Blue Devils’ trio of eight-minute scrimmages during the open practice.
Isaiah Evans provides buzzer-beating highlight in Duke basketball scrimmage
Sophomore sharpshooter Isaiah Evans will need to step into a bigger role for the Blue Devils in his second season. Evans provided a glimpse of what that might look like throughout the three scrimmages, finishing with a team-best 23 points, according to unofficial stats.
The 6-foot-6 wing combined for 12 points in two of the mini games, but logged 11 points in the second scrimmage. In that game, Evans knocked down a trio of treys, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer over Patrick Ngongba to give the Blue team its second straight win to start practice. That was the moment of the night and the loudest fans got inside of Cameron. More importantly, the Fayetteville native put together a 3-0 record in the scrimmages. Returning guards Caleb Foster (16 points) and Darren Harris (15 points) were also among Duke’s top performers.
Advertisement
Cayden Boozer is a pure point guard for the Blue Devils
Evans had the highlight of the night, but freshman guard Cayden Boozer was arguably the most impressive all-around player. A true point guard who consistently showed off his elite vision with a variety of passes as a creator and facilitator for his team, Boozer was 3-0 in the scrimmages. He had a modest 11 points across three games, but was in complete command of Duke’s offense and made several plays as an on- and off-ball defender. Fans are going to love watching the 6-foot-4 guard go this season.
Cameron Boozer looks like favorite to be ACC Player of the Year
Not to be outshined by his twin brother, Cameron Boozer scored 21 points across the three scrimmages, trailing only Evans in total points. A three-level scorer capable of getting a bucket at any given moment, the 6-foot-9 forward drilled 3-pointers off the dribble, made mid-range jumpers over defenders and finished at the rim. He looks the part as a favorite to win ACC Player of the Year before becoming a top-3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Advertisement
Patrick Ngongba is comfortable at center
Duke has to feel great about what it’s getting from 6-foot-11 center Patrick Ngongba, who scored 19 points and was consistently snagging rebounds as the Blue Devils’ tallest threat on the interior. Comfortable out of pick-and-roll sets with a knack for creating as a capable passer in the middle of the floor, Ngongba made several big-time passes and even knocked down a 3-pointer in the scrimmages. If he can stay healthy, he has a chance to be one of the best bigs in the nation.
Dame Sarr, Nik Khamenia get mixed reviews
Freshman wings Dame Sarr and Nik Khamenia had their share of solid moments in the scrimmages. Sarr is an elite cutter, capable of throwing down dunks over any defender that dares to meet him at the rim. Khamenia is a classic connector, willing to make the easy play in order to get the best shot for his team. But neither player shot it particularly well in the scrimmages, missing each of their attempts from 3-point range. Despite the shooting struggles, both players project as big-time contributors for this season. Sarr’s athleticism sets him apart and Khamenia’s overall feel is rare for an 18-year-old player.
Advertisement
Maliq Brown didn’t play in Duke scrimmages
In mid-July, Scheyer said Maliq Brown was “weeks ahead of schedule” after offseason surgery to repair a separated left shoulder. Brown, Duke’s 6-foot-9 king of deflections and one of the top defenders in the nation, participated in drills during the Blue Devils’ open practice. But Brown didn’t play in any of the three scrimmages, which tracks with the timeline Scheyer provided during his summer press conference. On July 8, Scheyer said Brown was still a month or two away from full-contact practices.
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: Isaiah Evans, Boozer twins shine in Duke basketball open practice
