Duke Blue Devils fans have reason to be optimistic this week, as one of the top prospects in the transfer portal has named the program among his two favorite destinations. Allen Graves, a standout forward from Santa Clara, is currently ranked as a top-five transfer player, and his recent comments at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine have sparked renewed excitement in Durham.

Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Graves made it clear that his primary goal is to hear his name called in the first round of the NBA Draft. However, he acknowledged that if he decides to return to college for another season, only two schools are on his radar: Duke and LSU. This revelation comes after weeks of speculation linking the Blue Devils to the talented forward, and it signals that head coach Jon Scheyer's program remains a serious contender for his services.

Graves' draft stock, however, is currently in flux. ESPN's latest mock draft projected him as the No. 22 overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, but that was before the combine began. According to Mark Giannotto of USA Today, Graves has been labeled one of the combine's early "losers" after underwhelming performances in agility drills and shooting sessions. He ranked outside the top 50 in every agility test and struggled from the floor, going just 12-for-30 on off-the-dribble attempts.

Despite these setbacks, Graves' pedigree as the 2025-26 WCC Sixth Man of the Year speaks volumes about his potential. If NBA scouts remain unimpressed by his combine numbers, the door could swing wide open for Duke to add another elite transfer to their already impressive 2026-27 roster. For Blue Devils fans, this is a developing story worth watching closely as the offseason heats up.