John Blackwell likely to return to college at Duke after NBA Draft Combine

Duke basketball fans around the country feared the program would lose another top transfer this summer upon hearing the news that former Wisconsin guard John Blackwell would participate in the 2026 NBA Draft Combine despite committing to Duke. However, with the draft combine complete, Blackwell seems all but certain to suit up for the Blue Devils next year. Blackwell performed okay at the combine but didn't particularly stand out over other prospects there.

He did post an impressive 16 points on the first day of scrimmages but had a tough time scoring on day two, finishing with three points. Additionally, Blackwell's measurements were discouraging to NBA teams. The 19.

1 point per game scorer with the Badgers last season registered the lowest wingspan of all attendees and was also the only player to have a negative height-to-wingspan ratio. For these reasons, Blackwell may have improved his draft stock a bit, but certainly not enough to justify leaving college. As of right now, ESPN ranks Blackwell as the 84th overall prospect, meaning the chances of him being drafted in the first 60 picks are quite slim.

That said, his participation in the combine will certainly be beneficial to his career, even if he chooses not to enter the draft. This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: John Blackwell likely to return to Duke after 2026 NBA Draft Combine