3 more Blue Devils transfer to UVA, plus 2 flips

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Three more former Duke players and two more Blue Devils commitments have announced they will follow Chris Pollard to Virginia.

Over the last few days, five of Pollard’s players from Duke have said they’re transferring to UVA, in addition to two recruits flipping their commitments from the Blue Devils to the Cavaliers.

Left-handed pitcher Henry Zatkowski, who posted a 5-2 record as a freshman this past season, said he is transferring to UVA, along with first baseman/outfielder Sam Harris and infielder Noah Murray, who grew up in nearby Crozet. In addition, 2025 prospect Will Huggins of Bowden, Ga., decommitted from Duke and committed to Virginia, as well as R.J. Holmes, a shortstop/centerfielder from Menifee, Calif., who flipped from the Blue Devils to the Cavaliers. Holmes is one of the most explosive players in the ’25 recruiting class according to one scouting report, which also said: “He has the tools to impact both sides of the ball with elite bat speed, a 6.55 in 60-yard dash and th range to shine at short or center.”

They join two other former Duke standouts, star outfielder A.J. Gracia and pitcher Kyle Johnson, who transferred to Virginia on Thursday (see related story). Also, former Duke commit, pitcher Jayden Stroman, the younger brother of New York Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman, flipped his commitment to Virginia on Wednesday.

Zatkowski struck out 58 batters in 59.1 innings this past season and walked only 11, while compiling a 4.83 ERA in 11 starts for the Blue Devils.

Harris, a power-hitting, rising junior, hit 9 home runs and had 42 RBI, while hitting .297 for Duke this past season.

Murray, also a rising junior, hit .342 in 38 at-bats in 2025 and added 10 RBI.

Huggins is a shortstop, 6-2, 185, and had previously committed to the Blue Devils.