John Blackwell Just Committed to Duke and the Final Four Talk Already Starts
It's still April, but Duke basketball is building something special. Former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell announced on social media Tuesday that he's headed to the Blue Devils next season, and this is the kind of addition that changes how people think about Jon Scheyer's roster.
Blackwell was ranked No. 6 on On3's transfer portal list, meaning Duke just grabbed one of the most sought-after names still available. The guy put up 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season with Wisconsin, earned All-Big Ten honors, and led the Badgers to their third straight NCAA tournament appearance. He was also launching deep balls like his life depended on it, shooting just shy of 39% from three and attempting more than seven threes a game.
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Here's the thing: Blackwell should slide directly into Duke's starting lineup when the season tips off. He's not a project. He's a proven Big Ten guard who knows how to win, and now he's plugging into a lineup that already has star guard Cayden Boozer and center Patrick Ngongba both committed to returning. Both Dame Sarr and Caleb Foster look like they're staying too.
Wisconsin went 24-11 last season and got bounced in the first round of the tournament, but that says more about the Badgers' tournament luck than it does about Blackwell's game. The Blue Devils are getting a legitimate scorer who's played big moments.
Duke's Roster Is Stacked for a Deep Run
Scheyer isn't just getting Blackwell. Duke also loaded up the recruiting class with three five-star Rivals.com recruits: Cam Williams, Deron Rippey Jr., and Bryson Howard. The Blue Devils were the No. 1 overall seed last season, made it to the Elite Eight before losing to UConn, and finished 35-3.
A lot can still change before next season tips off, but on paper, this roster looks like a Final Four contender. Between the veteran presence Blackwell brings and the star power already committed, Duke looks ready to run the ACC again and make another serious tournament push.
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