As the college basketball offseason continues to heat up, all eyes in Durham are on the recruiting trail. Duke Blue Devils fans, still energized by the recent flashes of promise under head coach Jon Scheyer, now hold their collective breath as the program seeks to land not one, not two, but three top-tier prospects who could define the trajectory of the 2025–26 season. This week might very well determine whether Duke reloads as a title contender or enters a transitional phase amid roster uncertainties.
Let’s break down the stakes, the players in question, and what it would mean for Duke’s future if Scheyer and his staff can successfully close the deal.
The Targets: Who Are the Three Prospects?
The trio of elite prospects drawing attention this week includes:
- Koa Peat – 5-star PF (2025 class)
- Jalen Haralson – 5-star SG (2025 class)
- Byron Mims – 4-star C (Transfer Portal, formerly of Arizona State)
Each brings a unique skill set and, more importantly, fits a key need on Duke’s roster. Their potential commitments would address gaps left by NBA departures and transfers, allowing Duke to remain a national title contender in what is expected to be a stacked 2025–26 landscape.
Koa Peat: The Crown Jewel
Ranked No. 3 in the 2025 class by multiple recruiting services, Koa Peat is a physically imposing, high-IQ forward out of Arizona. At 6-foot-8 and 235 pounds, he plays with a maturity beyond his years. Peat has the frame of a traditional power forward but the ball-handling and court vision of a guard. He thrives in transition, plays through contact, and can guard multiple positions—traits that make him a dream fit in Jon Scheyer’s pace-and-space offensive system.
Peat visited Duke earlier this year and left impressed by the program’s developmental focus and culture. In an era when NIL plays a significant role, Duke’s approach has stood out to Peat and his family, emphasizing long-term NBA prep over flashy short-term perks.
The main competition? Arizona and Baylor, both programs with close proximity and deep roots in the West Coast grassroots basketball scene. But Duke has the edge when it comes to brand power and recent player development. Adding Peat would give the Blue Devils an instant starter and possible one-and-done star—possibly their best post recruit since Marvin Bagley III.
Likelihood this week: 65%
Impact if signed: Game-changer. Makes Duke a Final Four favorite overnight.
Jalen Haralson: The Perimeter Solution
With Tyrese Proctor testing the NBA Draft waters and Caleb Foster reportedly weighing a transfer, Duke desperately needs to restock its perimeter firepower. Enter Jalen Haralson, a 6-foot-6 combo guard from Indiana, ranked in the top 10 of the 2025 class.
Haralson’s game is smooth, explosive, and versatile. He can create off the bounce, shoot from distance, and defend both guard positions. In some ways, he’s reminiscent of a young RJ Barrett—confident, aggressive, and skilled. While he’s been courted heavily by in-state programs like Indiana and Purdue, Haralson has long admired Duke’s legacy of elite guards and recently said in an interview that “Coach Scheyer really sees me as the next in that line.”
A campus visit last month only solidified mutual interest. The coaching staff reportedly rolled out a plan showing Haralson how he’d be used—off-ball in some sets, primary initiator in others. That versatility could be a major draw.
With Proctor likely gone and no clear star at the 2-guard or wing spot, Haralson would walk into immediate playing time and a chance to be the face of the offense.
Likelihood this week: 70%
Impact if signed: Fills Duke’s biggest roster need—versatile perimeter scoring and defense.
Byron Mims: The Frontcourt Transfer
While Duke continues to attract top high school talent, the evolving college basketball world requires an astute eye for portal opportunities. That’s where Byron Mims, a rising junior center who recently entered the portal after two productive years at Arizona State, comes into play.
Mims is not a one-and-done phenom. But he’s exactly the kind of bruising, low-post presence Duke has lacked in recent seasons. At 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, Mims averaged 11.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game last season in the Pac-12. His defensive motor and rebounding instinct are his calling cards, but his touch around the rim and ability to pass out of double teams make him a well-rounded addition.
Duke has lost significant size over the past two years. Kyle Filipowski is in the NBA, and Sean Stewart has transferred. While incoming freshman center Patrick Ngongba II is highly rated, he’s still developing physically. Mims would provide an experienced complement—perhaps even a co-starter—in the post.
Competing programs include UConn, Arkansas, and Michigan, all of which are pitching heavy minutes. Duke’s pitch? A chance to anchor a Final Four team and shine under the brightest lights in college basketball.
Likelihood this week: 60%
Impact if signed: Stabilizes the frontcourt, gives Scheyer a veteran big to balance a young core.
Why This Week Matters So Much
The college basketball offseason has become a fast-paced arms race. Portal movement, NIL packages, and early commitments now shift the balance of power in May, not just in the fall. For Duke, landing all three of these prospects could do more than just restock the roster—it could set the foundation for the next great Blue Devil run.
Here’s why this week is pivotal:
- Recruiting optics: Landing two 5-stars and a top transfer in the same week sends a message. Scheyer is winning recruiting battles against elite programs—and doing it his way.
- Roster stability: The current roster is in flux. Jon Scheyer cannot afford to wait until late summer to find replacements for key departures. The sooner these decisions come, the sooner the staff can finalize rotations and summer workouts.
- Team identity: With so many new faces likely coming in, this recruiting class will shape the team’s identity. Are they guard-heavy and fast-paced? Are they balanced with inside-out action? The answer hinges on who commits.
What Happens If Duke Strikes Out?
While expectations are high, it’s worth asking—what if Duke misses on these prospects?
If Koa Peat chooses Arizona or Baylor, Duke will be scrambling to replace an elite-level forward. That would shift more weight onto sophomore forward TJ Power and incoming freshman Isaiah Evans, both of whom are promising but inconsistent.
Missing Jalen Haralson would be the most painful blow. It would leave Duke without a dynamic perimeter scorer unless another transfer is added quickly. In that case, the staff would likely circle back to Plan B options like 4-star guard Braylon Mullins or even dip into the international market.
Without Mims, Duke’s post depth is perilously thin. Ngongba would be thrown into the fire, and a lack of a true veteran big could haunt them against physically imposing teams like Kansas or Alabama.
In short, a recruiting whiff this week doesn’t doom Duke—but it does raise red flags.
Fan and Program Momentum
Beyond just on-court implications, these commitments would fuel Duke’s momentum across the board. Fan morale, ticket sales, NIL fundraising—all get a jolt when big-name players join the program.
There’s also the Jon Scheyer narrative. Entering his third full season, Scheyer is no longer the “new guy.” He’s now judged by results. Early NCAA Tournament exits and inconsistent ACC play have raised questions, but pulling off a recruiting trifecta this week would remind the college basketball world that Duke still recruits with the best of them.
Final Thoughts
This week could be program-defining.
Koa Peat is the future NBA lottery pick that gives you a legit shot at cutting down nets.
Jalen Haralson is the dynamic guard that fuels an offense with creativity and shot-making.
Byron Mims is the blue-collar big who makes a difference in March when defense and rebounding matter most.
Landing all three would represent the best week of recruiting under Jon Scheyer’s tenure—and would restore Duke to its rightful place in the national championship conversation.
As the Blue Devil faithful wait for the decisions to roll in, one thing is clear: the fate of the 2025–26 roster—and perhaps Scheyer’s next chapter—rests in the hands of three players.