Duke basketball has been home to a couple of elite floor generals from New Jersey in Bobby Hurley and Kyrie Irving. Now, another is on the way, as Blair Academy

Cameron Boozer has been Duke’s star, but sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II has taken on a more pronounced role for the Blue Devils, and needs to be consistently good.

Here’s a breakdown of where Duke is in the latest college basketball polls as of Dec. 15:

Silky prospect Trevor Manhertz, who shined for Green Level High School in Cary, N.C., before transferring to prep power Christ School on the outskirts of Ashevi

The good thing about rust is that it can be shaken off. Duke had to work for it, but the Blue Devils secured their fourth-straight win, knocking off Syracuse 71-51.

After enjoying its longest in-season break of the year, No. 6 Duke begins Atlantic Coast Conference play when it hosts Georgia Tech on Wednesday in Durham, N.C.

As things stand, Smith checks in at No. 2 overall, No. 1 at his position, and No. 1 in Virginia on the 247Sports 2026 Composite. His top six consists of the Duke Blue Devils, Georgetown Hoyas, Arkansas Razorbacks, Syracuse Orange, Indiana Hoosiers, and Kentucky Wildcats.

As the world looks to ring in a new year, the Blue Devils will suit up twice on December 31: The Sun Bowl against Arizona State and men's basketball's date with Georgia Tech. The Blue Zone looks back to two previous New Year's Eve games in school history.