Duke basketball gets crucial piece back as sophomore guard announces return date

The main players on Duke basketball have not done much this offseason; the majority of the rotation has not yet declared whether they would return, use the transfer portal, or join the NBA Draft.

Caleb Foster has declared that he will return to Duke for the 2025–2026 season, giving the Blue Devils their first significant player back after standout freshman guard Kon Knueppel stated yesterday that he would be entering the NBA Draft.

“Hey Duke supporters, this is C-Fos [Caleb Foster]. As I’ve stated in earlier episodes, winning championships at Duke has always been a dream of mine since I was a child. When Foster announced his return on The Brotherhood Podcast, he stated, “That hasn’t changed at all, and I’m excited to announce that I’ll be returning for my junior year to keep going and keep pursuing to get that national championship number six.”

For Blue Devil basketball, this is major news because the team, which is losing most of its guards from the previous season, will now have a seasoned veteran back in the backcourt. Tyrese Proctor is probably going to the NBA Draft, Sion James has reached the end of his eligibility, and Isaiah Evans must decide whether to return to Durham, declare for the 2025 NBA Draft, or use the transfer portal.

Foster was considered a top breakthrough prospect in college basketball going into his sophomore season with Duke in 2024–25, but it never really materialized. For a significant portion of the second half of the regular season, Foster nearly disappeared from the rotation after starting the season but ultimately was benched in favor of James.

After watching his minutes drop during a season that was meant to be his breakout season, the sophomore shown incredible maturity and eventually made his way back into the rotation during the postseason.

Foster played double-digit minutes in four of Duke’s five NCAA Tournament games, averaging 4.6 points and two assists. When he was introduced, he immediately gave the Blue Devils on both sides of the court a boost of energy even though he wasn’t filling the box score.

To the surprise of many Duke supporters, Foster played 13 minutes in the first half of Duke’s devastating Final Four loss to Houston, recording four rebounds and an assist. However, he did not play in the second half at all.

In any case, Foster will now have another opportunity to resurrect his breakout campaign and play a significant role for a Blue Devil team that hopes to win a championship the following season. Foster will most likely start at point guard for Duke the next season, regardless of any decisions Jon Scheyer makes in the portal.