If you watched any part of the NBA Draft that took place this week, there’s a good chance you heard someone from the Duke Blue Devils mentioned.
Coach Jon Scheyer’s program had five players selected in the two-round event. That equated to 8.5% of the 59 picks.
BetCarolina, your source for the latest North Carolina sports betting promos and reviews, wanted to know what happened to the other schools that saw five or more players picked in the same year.
Team, Year | Players drafted | Following season result |
Duke, 2025 | 5 | TBD |
Duke, 2022 | 5 | 27-9 (14-6 ACC), lost second round of NCAAs |
Kentucky, 2015 | 6 | 27-9 (13-5 SEC), lost second round of NCAAs |
Kentucky, 2012 | 6 | 21-12 (12-6 SEC), missed NCAA Tournament |
Kentucky, 2010 | 5 | 29-9 (10-6 SEC), lost in Final Four |
Kansas, 2008 | 5 | 27-8 (14-2 Big 12), lost in Sweet 16 |
Florida, 2007 | 5 | 24-12 (8-8 SEC), missed NCAA Tournament |
UConn, 2006 | 5 | 17-14 (6-10 Big East), missed NCAA Tournament |
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This was the eighth time in the past 20 years that one college program produced five or more NBA Draft choices in one year.
It should not come as a shock that the teams that had five or more players drafted all fared rather well in those seasons. Florida (2007), Kansas (2008) and Kentucky (2012) won the national title. Both Duke squads and Kentucky’s 2015 team reached the Final Four, while UK’s 2010 team and UConn in 2006 reached the Elite Eight as No. 1 seeds in their region. So those betting Duke basketball odds last season were mostly rewarded.
The chart above also shows a mixed bag, with only four teams returning to the NCAA Tournament a year after losing five or more players to the NBA Draft in one year. But Kentucky, under then coach John Calipari, and the Blue Devils have been known for attracting elite “one-and-done,” recruits. This year’s No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, is the latest example of a player who spent just one season on campus before turning pro.
Flagg, now with the Dallas Mavericks, is the -200 favorite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year at bet365 North Carolina sportsbook.
It’s also worth noting that Kentucky’s 2012-13 team might have made the NCAA Tournament (instead of losing to Robert Morris in the NIT) if Nerlens Noel did not blow out his knee in February.
Expect to hear Duke’s name called on Selection Sunday when March rolls around. While the Blue Devils lost five players to the draft, they kept players like Isaiah Evans, an excellent 3-point shooter, and Patrick Ngongba, a 6-foot-11 center with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, in Durham for at least one more season. Also, Scheyer once again has a top-ranked recruiting class and they will be an NC sportsbooks favorite to do well again.
This year’s class is led by five-star forwards Cameron Boozer and Nikolas Khamenia. Cayden Boozer, a four-star guard and Cameron’s brother, is also part of the class. The twins’ father, Carlos Boozer, played three seasons for Duke and was part of the Blue Devils’ 2001 NCAA championship team.
Oddsmakers at BetMGM North Carolina Sportsbook like the Blue Devils’ chances next March. Duke’s odds to win the NCAA Tournament are +1300 as of June 27, making them the third choice on the futures board to win the 2026 national title, behind Purdue (+1000) and Houston (+1100).
USA Today photo by David Banks
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As a writer and analyst for BetCarolina.com, Steve not only covers gaming news and developments in North Carolina but also provides insights into what they mean for bettors, licensed operators and the state. A veteran journalist with 25 years of experience covering sports, politics and business, Steve has reported on the gambling industry intently over the past five years.
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