Overview
- Blackwell announced on Instagram that he is withdrawing from the 2026 NBA Draft and will play the 2026-27 season at Duke, a move first reported by On3 and confirmed Friday.
- He committed to Duke on April 21 and will have one year of college eligibility remaining before he can re-enter the NBA draft.
- Combine testing and pre-draft evaluations shaped his choice, with measures like a 35.5-inch max vertical and solid shooting-drill results but major mock drafts placing him outside the projected first round.
- Blackwell averaged about 19.1 points and 5.1 rebounds last season, earned All-Big Ten third-team honors, and produced five 30-point games for Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin staff praised his three seasons there, and the move follows a wider transfer-portal trend of top scorers using a final collegiate year at high-profile programs to chase titles and boost future draft stock.