Ahead of the 2026-27 college basketball season, ESPN recently listed the 67 newcomers who will provide the most impact for their new teams. The list featured three current Duke Blue Devils, one incoming freshman, and two transfer students.
Recent Belmont transfer student Drew Scharnowski received recognition on the list as a sleeper. Last season with Belmont, the 6'9" forward averaged 10.7 points, six rebounds, 2.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in 21.8 minutes per game.
The next Blue Devil listed (No. 13) was Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje, who has been recognized by many this summer, including NBA general managers. Boumtje-Boumtje previously played for FC Barcelona's U18 basketball team and helped lead the United States to a gold medal in the U17 2026 FIBA World Cup, taking home MVP honors for the tournament.
The highest ranking for Duke belonged to John Blackwell, who was ranked as the second-best newcomer overall. Widely regarded as the best transfer student available, Blackwell has proved himself as one of the strongest scorers in the country, averaging 17.4 points per game in 71 contests between his sophomore and junior seasons. Last season with Wisconsin, he averaged 19.1 points to go along with 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.1 steals.
While Scharnowski was unavailable for Duke's first scrimmage, Boumtje-Boumtje and Blackwell were two of the most impactful Blue Devils, combining for 36 points in a 40-point victory.
Contact/Follow us @DukeWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Duke news, notes and opinions.Follow Mack on X: @MackBaltes
This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: 3 Duke newcomers ranked among NCAA's most impactful