After a tough Round of 8 loss to the UConn Huskies, the Duke Blue Devils are aiming to bounce back. Caleb Foster and Dame Sarr are expected to return, but players like Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer may head to the NBA. Despite potential departures, Duke is actively targeting top talent in the transfer portal.
According to 247Sports’ Travis Branham, Duke are currently the leading contenders to land Wisconsin Badgers guard. Coming off an impressive season, Blackwell averaged 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
The 6-foot-4 junior from Bloomfield Fields, Michigan, shot 43.0% from the field and 38.9% from the three-point line. Blackwell’s improved shot from the three-point line took his game to another level after shooting 32.2% during the 2024-25 college basketball season.
Blackwell would immediately elevate Duke or Illinois, giving the teams a much-needed scoring boost on the perimeter. In fact, Blackwell performed even better down the stretch, averaging 25.0 points between the Big 10 Tournament and NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Blackwell would be an exception addition to the program, giving Scheyer a strong and deeper guard rotation. However, Duke will likely have to fight for Blackwell’s services alongside Illinois over the coming days or weeks.
