Five-Star College Basketball Recruit Makes Move on Duke
Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils reached the NCAA Final Four during the 2024–25 season. Following that impressive run, the program lost four of its five starters. Rather than dwelling on the departures, Scheyer and his staff immediately focused on reloading their roster to stay competitive heading into the 2025–26 season.
That effort may soon pay off with the addition of a major five-star recruit.
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Joe Tipton of On3 Sports reported Monday that Dame Sarr, one of the top prospects in the 2025 class, is on campus for an official visit to Duke, a detail confirmed by multiple sources.
Sarr is a 6-foot-7 guard from Italy and is drawing significant attention from multiple top-tier programs. His shortlist includes the Oregon Ducks, Kansas Jayhawks, and now Duke.
On May 7, he took an official visit to Kansas, where he met with head coach Bill Self. Sarr also received an offer from Illinois on January 19.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer.Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Sarr made the FC Barcelona roster for the 2024-25 season, and in March, he delivered a breakout performance, scoring 21 points and adding 3 assists.
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However, his stint with the team ended in April after he chose to attend the Nike Hoop Summit without the club's approval. Barcelona considered it a breach of his contractual obligations, which led to his departure.
Despite the setback, Sarr's stock continues to rise. He has represented Italy in numerous international youth competitions, including the 2024 U18 EuroBasket.
With the departures of Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Tyrese Proctor and Khaman Maluach, Duke has significant openings in its starting lineup. Projected starters for 2025-26 include Caleb Foster, Isaiah Evans, Cameron Boozer and Patrick Ngongba II.
If Sarr chooses to commit to Duke, he's expected to immediately compete for a starting spot and help solidify the Blue Devils' strong roster.
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His potential fit in Durham is generating excitement as the Blue Devils aim to maintain their elite status in college basketball.
Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit's Father Almost Brought to Tears by Kentucky's Mark Pope
Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Makes Decision Before Senior Season
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