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Duke’s John Blackwell weighs in on NBA Draft future after transfer
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- Duke’s John Blackwell weighs in on NBA Draft future after transfer
Duke's John Blackwell weighs in on NBA Draft future after transfer appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
After committing to Duke Blue Devils on April 21 while still testing the NBA Draft process, former Wisconsin Badgers guard John Blackwell said his future remains undecided following his appearance at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.
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Blackwell, one of 73 invitees to the combine, told college basketball analyst Andy Katz on Monday that he is continuing to evaluate both options before the May 27 withdrawal deadline for early entrants.
"It's up in the air right now. Just trusting God through the process," the 21-year-old said. "I would love to play for a prestigious college like Duke. Chasing my dreams right now and just weighing what's best for me. Coach [Jon] Scheyer has been helpful through the process, and the whole coaching staff at Duke has been helpful through the process. In my opinion, it's a win-win situation with both. Because I get to play at the best college in the country or get to live out my dreams and play in the NBA."
Blackwell entered the portal as one of the best available transfers after earning All-Big Ten Third Team honors at Wisconsin. During his junior season, Blackwell finished with career-best averages of 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He also shot 38.9 percent from three-point range and 85.9 percent from the free-throw line, numbers that helped establish him as the No. 3 overall transfer and No. 1 shooting guard in the 247Sports transfer rankings.
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At the combine, Blackwell measured 6-foot-3 1/4 barefoot and 199.6 pounds with a 6-foot-2 1/4 wingspan and an 8-foot-2 standing reach. He is scheduled to participate in scrimmages at Wintrust Arena later this week as NBA teams continue gathering evaluations.
While Blackwell has not finalized his decision, his comments suggest a return to Duke next season is still on the table. The Blue Devils are already projected among the nation's top teams ahead of the 2026-27 season, with multiple preseason rankings placing them inside the top three nationally.
If Blackwell withdraws from the draft, he would likely step directly into a major backcourt role for Duke after the program lost several core contributors this offseason. His scoring production, perimeter shooting, and experience were major reasons Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer targeted him in the transfer portal as the team continues rebuilding its roster for another national title push.
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