Duke Basketball: Latest on 2023 NBA Draft decisions and transfer portal rumors

Duke Basketball in the mix for a couple of transfers

Due to the potential for so many players to come back, it’s hard to envision the Blue Devils landing many transfers. In Coach Jon Scheyer’s first offseason, he landed a trio of veterans to add experience to the roster, with Ryan Young being the most impactful. So far, the team has been quiet in the portal, though they have reportedly contacted a pair of guys.

Kel’el Ware – Oregon Ducks

Ware is a former five-star prospect that averaged 6.6 ppg and 4.1 rpg as a freshman this past season in 16 mpg. The biggest selling point with him is that Ware is a freak athlete as a five-man and has raw potential on both ends. He was fantastic in the PK85 Tournament, outplaying current Final Four participant, Adama Sanogo.

Ware played behind N’Faly Dante and is looking for more playing time elsewhere. This is most likely Plan B for the program in case Dereck Lively enters and stays in the NBA Draft. But that may take some time and other big names, such as Kentucky and Auburn, are potentially in the mix.

Keyon Menifield – Washington Huskies

As a freshman guard, Menifield showed flashes of stardom. He averaged 10.0 ppg and 3.1 apg on the season, including 26 points versus Utah Tech and 27 points and seven assists in an overtime win over Oregon. The 6’1 guard is a quick and flashy playmaker that has all the big names in the mix besides Duke.

There’s likely not much to this outside of just contact, as Proctor’s return and the incoming five-star guards are just too much of a logjam to realistically bring Menifield in. But it shows how high programs view the freshman guard.