Duke Lands Blackwell, Builds Deep Squad for 2026-27

0:00On April 21st, Duke just dropped a bombshell in the transfer portal by snagging Wisconsin Guard John Blackwell. This move is huge for their scoring punch, heading into the 2026-27 season, especially with top scores, Cameron Booser and Azea Evans likely bolting for the NBA draft. Blackwell balled out this year for the Badgers, dropping 19.1 points per game on 44.1% shooting, including 37.5% from deep. He lit it up for 30 plus points five times, helping Wisconsin grab a number five seed in the NCAA tournament. Fans and scouts have been buzzing about Blackwell since he hit the portal on April 6th, with big dogs like UCLA, Illinois, and Louisville chasing him. Hard. But Duke under John Shire pulled off the win, aiming to shake off those March hard breaks and chase that sixth national title. Right on the heels of that, Kate and Booser announced he's sticking around for sophomore year after a solid postseason run, averaging 13 points, since the ACC tournament, despite

1:01that tough Yukon finish. Then Patrick and Gongba said he's back two, bringing his 10.7 points, six rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. With Sharnowski from Belmont now in the mix too, Duke's building a deep, hungry squad. Shires got the pieces to make some real noise next year.