Duke head coach Jon Scheyer is once again building a top-notch recruiting class. The Blue Devils secured their eighth recruit in the 2026 cycle with Loyola Maryland’s Jacob Theodosiu commitment earlier today, per Riley Giles of On3. He visited the Blue Devils on
Duke Picks Up 8th Newcomer With Patriot League Transfer, 2 Days After 16-Year-Old European Commits
Theodosiu heads to Durham after two solid seasons at Loyola. The 6-4 guard was a starter for Greyhounds for most of the season and showed signifcant improvement before missing nearly a month due to injury. He saw sparse action in eight games off the bench after returning to action.
Theodosiu is a veteran guard who is seen as a spot-up shooter for the Blue Devils. He is also comfortable attacking closeouts and is a high-IQ defener with active hands. However, the 20-year-old is seen more as a depth piece for Scheyer this year, who could have two years of eligibility left if the five-in-five rule passes sometime this summer.
Theodosiu averaged 13.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 steals in 27 appearances this past season for Loyola. A high-volume three-point shooter, Theodosiu knocked down 1.1 threes this past season and got to the free-throw line a good amount. But turnovers have been an issue.
Theodosiu was a three-star high school recruit from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, Ohio. The Waterloo (Canada) native attended Wyoming, where he appeared in 11 games in 2023-24, before transferring to Loyola.
Theodosiu is Duke’s third transfer and second from a small DI program, joining Drew Scharnowski (Belmont) and John Blackwell (Wisconsin). The Blue Devils also have five freshmen in their 2026 class.
Scheyer’s 2026 High School Class
Duke’s 2026 high school recruiting class, ranked No. 1 by On3 and No. 2 by 247Sports, features three consensus five-star recruits. If the Blue Devils class maintains its ranking, it would mark Scheyer’s fifth straight recruiting class that finished first or second.
Cam Williams – 6-11 Power Forward, Phoenix (AZ)
Williams is considered the crown jewel of the Blue Devils class due to his elite mobility and shot-blocking ability, soft touch, and face-up game. Williams is one of the three freshmen who have signed with the Blue Devils.
Deron Rippey Jr. – 6-1 Point Guard, Brooklyn (NY)
Rippey Jr. is a consensus five-star recruit who committed to the Blue Devils right before New Year’s. Rippey has an elite burst and thrives getting downhill and excels at finishing at the rim due to his NBA-level athleticism. He possesses strong court vision, has improved his 3-point shooting, and is a tenacious on-ball defender.
Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje – 7-0 Center, St. Petersburg (FL)
Boumtje-Boumtje is the 16-year-old son of former NBA second-round pick Reuben Boumtje-Boumtje and reclassified from the class of 2027 to join the Blue Devils on April 30. The consensus five-star recruit played for FC Barcelona club’s junior team Barca Liga U, where he averaged 16.2 points on 50.8% shooting from the field and 6.7 rebounds.
Boumtje-Boumtje, who will not be eligible for the NBA draft until 2028, is long and very agile. He can stretch the floor and defend in space.
Bryson Howard – 6-4 Guard, Frisco (TX)
Howard is a consensus four-star recruit and has signed with the Blue Devils. Howard, the son of former NBA player Josh Howard, is a long, athletic lefty with a 6-11 wingspan. He thrives in transition while also being an outstanding shooter — whether off the catch, coming off screens, or off the dribble.
Maxime Meyer — 7-1 Center, Toronto (ON)
Meyer is a consensus four-star recruit who has also signed with the Blue Devils. Meyer has elite length — with a 7-3 wingspan and 9-5 standing reach — and is considered a long-term prospect.
An Early Look at the Blue Devils’ Roster
Scheyer figures to be about done assembling his roster. The Blue Devils have lost five players from last season’s team, which went 35-3 and reached the Elite 8. Maliq Brown (out of eligibility),y) while Cameron Boozer and Isaiah Evans have entered the NBA draft. Darren Harris (Indiana) and Nikolas Khemenia (UConn) have vacated via the transfer portal.
However, the Blue Devils currently have 13 players on their 2026-27 roster, including eight newcomers. It figures Scheyer could add one more player, either another frontcourt piece via the transfer market or a long-term high school prospect. Santa Clara transfer Allen Graves, who is testing the NBA waters, is reportedly a target of the Blue Devils.
Guards/ Wings
John Blackwell
Dame Sarr
Deron Rippey Jr.
Bryson Howard
Sebastin Wilkins
Jacob Theodosiu
Frontcourt
Drew Scharnowski
Cameron Williams
Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje
Maxime Meyer
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
