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NO: Duke Basketball Rookie Teases Plan for Next Season
Durham, NC – April 22, 2025 — The Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team has long been a magnet for top-tier high school talent and one-and-done sensations. But as the dust settles on an emotional and hard-fought 2024–25 season, one of the program’s most promising young stars has fans buzzing—not because he’s leaving, but because he’s not going anywhere.
Freshman standout Jayden “J.J.” Owens shocked the college basketball world this week when he took to social media with a cryptic, three-letter post: “NO.” Just that—no context, no caption, no follow-up. But within minutes, it set off a firestorm of speculation, especially among Duke fans who feared that the nation’s top recruit from the class of 2024 was already preparing to enter the NBA Draft.
Instead, sources close to the program confirmed what Blue Devil Nation had been hoping to hear: Owens’ “NO” was in direct response to the question dominating headlines—“Is he declaring for the draft?” The answer is no. He’s staying.
Owens arrived in Durham as a five-star phenom out of Montverde Academy, the same powerhouse that produced NBA talents like Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes. At 6-foot-6 with elite handles, dazzling court vision, and a silky jumper, expectations were sky-high before he even put on a Duke jersey.
And he didn’t disappoint.
Owens averaged 15.8 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.9 rebounds in his freshman campaign, helping lead Duke to a 27–8 record and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Despite the Blue Devils falling just short of a Final Four berth, Owens was a revelation—drawing comparisons to former Blue Devil legends like Kyrie Irving and Tyus Jones.
His decision to return for a second season bucks a trend that’s become almost expected at Duke: come in, dominate, and declare. But Owens, ever the competitor, has unfinished business.
The day after his viral “NO” post, Owens shared a longer message in an Instagram story that left no doubt about his intentions:
“This year was unforgettable. But I’m not done. This place means more. The fans, my teammates, Coach [Jon] Scheyer—we’ve built something. I want a banner. I’m coming back.”
Those simple words echoed through the program, galvanizing a fan base already hungry for banner No. 6. With Owens at the helm, Duke won’t just be returning talent—they’ll be returning leadership, maturity, and, perhaps most importantly, belief.
Analysts were quick to note that Owens’ draft stock was already soaring. ESPN’s latest mock draft placed him as a projected lottery pick—No. 11 to be exact. But Owens is choosing legacy over leverage.
NBA scouts rave about his upside, but Owens is focused on polishing his game even further before making the leap. There’s also a growing trend in college basketball where top players are rediscovering the value of continuity, NIL opportunities, and legacy-building—especially at blue-blood programs like Duke.
Owens reportedly secured several NIL endorsements during his freshman year, including a lucrative deal with Jordan Brand and a local investment partnership with a Durham real estate firm. His financial future is already bright. Now, he wants his name in the rafters.
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer couldn’t hide his excitement in his press conference on Monday:
“JJ is special—not just as a player, but as a person. His return gives us a chance to build something truly elite next season. He’s a leader. He sets the tone in the locker room, and the guys follow him.”
With Owens returning, Duke’s 2025–26 roster just became one of the most dangerous in the country.
With seniors Kyle Filipowski and Jeremy Roach graduating and center Sean Stewart declaring for the draft, many assumed Duke was headed for another transition year. But Owens’ decision may shift that narrative entirely.
Here’s a projected look at the Blue Devils’ core rotation next season:
- PG: Jayden “JJ” Owens (Sophomore)
- SG: Mackenzie Mgbako (Returning Junior)
- SF: Isaiah Evans (Incoming Five-Star Freshman)
- PF: Caleb Foster (Sophomore)
- C: Patrick Ngongba II (Returning Sophomore)
And don’t forget the likely additions from the transfer portal, where Duke is reportedly targeting a rim-protecting big man and a veteran 3-and-D wing.
Owens staying also has major implications for recruiting. In a time when elite high school talent is eyeing instant playing time, having a sophomore leader like Owens in place offers both a challenge and an opportunity.
2025 top-10 prospect Tyrone Madison, a dynamic combo guard who recently included Duke in his final five, has spoken glowingly about Owens’ mentorship during his official visit.
“JJ is the real deal,” Madison said. “He’s someone I’d love to learn from. You don’t see many guys that good sticking around. That says a lot.”
Duke’s message to recruits? You can develop and win here—and you don’t have to leave after one year to build your brand or your resume.
Owens has made his goals for next season crystal clear: win an ACC Championship, make a Final Four, and hang a national title banner.
“There’s a standard here. I came to Duke to win. We were close, but not close enough. That feeling in the locker room after that Elite Eight loss—it’s something I never want to feel again,” Owens told local media in a brief post-announcement interview.
Duke’s last national championship came in 2015 under Coach K. Scheyer, still early in his tenure, is hungry to make his own mark. With a player like Owens leading the charge, it’s no longer a rebuild—it’s a title run.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Owens’ game isn’t on the stat sheet—it’s his voice. Teammates describe him as the heart of the locker room. Despite being a freshman, he ran huddles, challenged veterans, and organized off-court bonding events throughout the season.
Caleb Foster, Duke’s sophomore forward, put it best:
“JJ doesn’t act like a freshman. He talks like a coach. He’s the guy you trust when the game’s on the line. Knowing he’s back? It changes everything.”
Owens’ return isn’t just about points and assists—it’s about presence, poise, and purpose.
There’s a reason Duke greats like Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, and Jay Williams are still revered decades later. They left legacies. They won banners. They came back for more.
Owens now has the chance to carve his name into that rarefied air—not just as a great Duke player, but as a leader who chose loyalty over the league. In today’s college basketball landscape, that makes him a unicorn.
For once, “NO” is the best answer Duke fans could’ve hoped for. No to the draft. No to speculation. No to leaving a dream unfinished.
JJ Owens is staying in Durham. And if his plan for next season comes to life, he might just be bringing home more than wins—he might be bringing back a banner.
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