Duke’s Isaiah Evans Declares for 2026 NBA Draft After Breakout Sophomore Season
Duke's Isaiah Evans Declares for 2026 NBA Draft After Breakout Sophomore Season
Isaiah Evans is not coming back to Duke.
The 6-foot-6 guard announced that he will remain in the 2026 NBA Draft, ending any speculation about a return to Durham for his junior season. Evans started all 38 games for Duke this past season, averaging 15 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the field. He has already held pre-draft workouts with the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Dallas Mavericks, and he is widely projected as a first-round pick.
Evans is the second Blue Devil to declare for the draft this cycle, joining Cameron Boozer, who is expected to be a top-five selection. Boozer was the headliner of Duke’s 2025-26 roster, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists while shooting 55.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three. Boozer’s twin brother, Cayden, announced he will return to Duke for his sophomore season, which gives head coach Jon Scheyer at least one Boozer in Durham next year.
Evans’ decision to stay in the draft is the right one. He is a long, athletic wing with NBA-level tools, and his shooting numbers improved steadily throughout the season. At 6-foot-6, he has the frame and versatility that NBA teams covet in modern wing players, and his pre-draft workout schedule suggests teams agree with that assessment. When four NBA franchises are bringing you in for individual workouts before the combine, you do not go back to college.
The departure of both Evans and Cameron Boozer means Duke loses its top two scorers from a team that reached the Sweet Sixteen. Scheyer will need to rebuild the roster around Cayden Boozer and whatever additions come through the transfer portal and 2026 recruiting class. That is the reality of modern college basketball: your best players leave after one or two years, and your ability to replace them defines your program.
Evans should hear his name called in the first round on draft night. He earned it. Duke will move on. And the 2026 NBA Draft just got a little deeper with another Blue Devil in the mix.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
