As a five-star recruit in last year’s top-ranked Rivals freshman class, Sean Stewart has announced that he will enter the transfer portal for his basketball goals. This news comes as no surprise, as seven players from Duke’s roster have already done so. Among them are other high-profile recruits like TJ Power, Jeremy Roach, and Mark Mitchell. With only three players from last season’s Elite Eight team expected to return next season, this is a significant turnover for the Blue Devils.
The only returning players at Duke are junior guard Tyrese Proctor, sophomore guard Caleb Foster, and senior walk-on Stanley Borden. Despite the mass exodus of talent, there is still hope for Duke fans with their incoming freshman class. The top-ranked recruit in the country is Cooper Flagg, who is joined by several other five-star recruits like Kon Kneuppel and Isaiah Evans. Khaman Maluach is also projected to be a lottery pick in next year’s draft. In addition to these recruits, Duke also has a few four-star recruits to round out their class.
Head coach Jon Scheyer will be facing his first season without any players from the Mike Krzyzewski era. This adds an extra layer of pressure for him to succeed in leading the Blue Devils back to prominence on the court. Although Scheyer has yet to reach the Final Four in his tenure, Duke fans remain optimistic about their chances of making it deep into tournament play next season.
While it may seem daunting at first glance, Scheyer can take solace in knowing that he has a talented incoming freshman class that could help him turn things around at Duke. The team will need all the help they can get if they want to make it back into elite company once again.
In conclusion, Sean Stewart’s decision to enter the transfer portal marks another major blow for Duke basketball. However, with a new coaching staff and an impressive group of incoming freshmen on board, there is still hope for success in 2022-23.
