Three Duke Players to Secure 2027 NBA Draft Spots
Patrick Ngongba II, Dame Sarr, and Cameron Williams appear as first-round projections for the 2027 draft.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball
Three Duke basketball players are currently projected as first-round picks for the June 2027 NBA Draft. The university remains the only ACC program represented with multiple lottery-bound selections.
Why it matters
The high projections highlight the continued talent pipeline at Duke University, reinforcing its status as a top destination for elite NBA prospects. These individual accolades arrive as the program looks toward a significant presence in the league's upcoming recruitment cycle.
Patrick Ngongba II is projected at No. 9, Dame Sarr at No. 13, and Cameron Williams at No. 17. The 2027 NBA Draft lottery reform expanded the field to 16 total lottery picks.
The players
Patrick Ngongba II
He is a 6-foot-11 basketball player at Duke University projected as a top-ten NBA draft pick.
Dame Sarr
He is a 6-foot-8 basketball player at Duke University currently listed as a projected lottery pick.
Cameron Williams
He is a 7-foot tall Duke basketball player participating in the school's high-level recruitment pipeline.
Adam Finkelstein
He is a professional analyst who compiled the 2027 NBA mock draft projections.
The details
Patrick Ngongba II, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound center, is linked to the Washington Wizards, while 6-foot-8, 200-pound Dame Sarr is projected to the San Antonio Spurs. Cameron Williams, standing 7-foot and weighing 215 pounds, rounds out the first-round projections for Duke players.
Timeline
October 3, 2026: Cameron Williams participated in the Blue-White scrimmage.
October 8, 2026: Duke defeated Belmont 102-62 in a scrimmage.
June 2027: The 2027 NBA Draft will occur.
Season Trajectory
These projections solidify Duke's position as the dominant talent developer within the ACC this season. The team's ability to place three players in the first round indicates a high ceiling for both their current competitive performance and their future professional prospects.
Fans should monitor the trio's development through the remainder of the season to track potential shifts in their draft stock. These projections suggest a high probability that Duke will maintain its visibility in draft-night discussions through the spring.
The takeaway
Duke University continues to be a primary feeder for top-tier professional basketball talent. Prospective student-athletes often view these draft results as a primary indicator of a program's success and developmental capabilities.
Further reading
For more on the team's professional prospects, see Durham Basketball.
