“It’s been a special ride that ended in a heartbreaking way.” That’s how Duke Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer described the program’s performance in the Big Dance journey earlier this season. Riding on a high wave since the season began, the crash landing in the finals was loud and highly unexpected. However, Scheyer had a different outlook on the whole situation. He argued that the Devil’s incredible performance in the Final Four cannot be blamed for their crushing 67-70 defeat against the Houston Cougars.

With players like Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor, Isaiah Evans, and Sion James making Duke one of the strongest rosters, Scheyer was proud of the way the boys dazzled on the court throughout the season opener. After their March Madness stint, Scheyer was loud and clear in his praise for Flagg and Proctor. However, as the drafts inch closer with each passing day, the team will see three of their most efficient players begin their respective journeys in the pros. But is this the only concern haunting Scheyer?

Joining host Issac Schade on the latest episode of the Locked on College Basketball podcast, national analyst DeShaun Tate predicted hard times for the number one-seeded team. In the wake of the Nate Ament scenario, DeShaun bluntly stated how Jon and the team will have to secure their transfers and prior-committed players for good before they hit the reset button on the team’s roster.

Also hinting at the 2024 recruits Cameron and Cayden Boozer, Tate remarked, “I feel like they’re gonna have a bunch of guys who can make a case for themselves and I think this might be one of the first years with the exception of the Boozer twins. I think both of them will be starters right off the bat-those are the only ones that I feel really confident like, overly confident, in saying are going to be locks. I think it’s tough but those are the only two that I feel really confident, like really good about being able to say, should be, could be, and will be the starters in that Duke starting five.”

The team is heavily reliant on the Boozer twins to create magic next season while they wait to hire potential through transfers ever since the 6-feet-9 power forward de-committed from Duke over Tennessee.”I could have gone to any of the five finalists,” Ament said. “Or even to schools outside the finalists. Ultimately, I felt like this was the best place for me and my family, and the coaching staff was the best fit for me.”

Meanwhile, the transfer portal was supposed to benefit the team, and the five-star recruit not ending up at Duke came as a surprise altogether. Unlike Kiyan Anthony, who has already decided to follow his father’s footsteps at Syracuse Orange, a couple of high school recruits including Ament, have changed their decision. This leads us to ponder upon whether reconsidering choices and committing to one program is as difficult as it sounds? 

Or should the college basketball teams be more vigilant and extend support to their existing roster as well as committed candidates as means to avoid them from switching their choices? Well, what happened to the Baylor Bears roster is no secret. As their significant players entered the portals either for better NIL deals or just to get a chance to shine, this de-committing and transfer portals have somewhat become a gruelling reality that the NCAA needs to stay more vigilant about.

Are De-Commitments the New Normal?

The recent scene at the transfer portals left the Duke Blue Devils high and dry this year. Having lost three of their best players in Kon Knueppel, Flagg, and Proctor to the upcoming NBA draft, the team’s only breather lay in the portals, but that too is in vain.

After one of the finest prospects in Nate Ament, decommitted from the Tennessee Volunteers, he is not the only one to do so. Another highly anticipated player to join the program, Shelton Henderson also de-committed from Duke this season and joined the Miami Hurricanes, clearly influenced by his positive relationship with former Duke coach Jai Lucas. According to Tate, this will only mount tensions for HC Scheyer, who needs to secure his transfers and existing players.

Whether it was Darius Adams de-committing from UConn or Caden Lewis switching his Kentucky decision, the trend of de-commits is not just limited to one team. Terming this trend a new normal for players from well-to-do schools, Tate said, “I think it’s more new normal, to be honest with you. I think that what we’re seeing right now with it just being about three guys primarily, more so talking about from blue blood schools.”

These young players, straight out of high school, are more confident than their predecessors. Easily influenced by programs, coaches, and universities, their minds are not only fickle but also not ready to take on accountability for their actions. Tate mentions how the upcoming recruits even lack the competitive spirit, since they’ve been more shielded than their predecessors.

“Sometimes we’re getting to that point where guys almost have an excuse now to be able to duck competition by saying that guys were recruited over them and just really lacking the competitive nature and competitive edge to be held accountable, if you will accept the responsibility that comes along with committing to a place. But if they can find their way out of it and maybe even be able to get a bag. The bag that comes along with that is something that gives them that opportunity to be confident about exercising new options,” he said. 

This series of de-commitments is nothing short of an upheaval task for Scheyer, who needs to rebuild a strong roster for the next season. As one of the fittest HCs, Scheyer’s constant efforts have earned Duke the reigning ACC Champions title. For the leader who knows the ins and outs of the Duke locker room culture, it remains to be seen how Scheyers will propel the team’s trajectory into next season while maintaining Coach K’s legacy.