Dame Sarr details basketball journey from Italy to Duke

One of six incoming players for the Blue Devils for next season is Dame Sarr, an international guard from Italy. That’s a dozen-hour flight for him in coming from Barcelona, across the Atlantic, to Durham.

Sarr, appearing on ‘The Brotherhood Podcast’ following his commitment to Duke, spoke about his journey from overseas to college basketball. It started on a court over a decade ago where, after playing two sports growing up, he went with basketball to focus on over the last few years, which he later realized would allow him to play at a pro level someday.

“Yeah, so, I started playing basketball at six. That’s when I started to play basketball,” said Sarr. “I was playing basketball and soccer at the same time. And then, I started to play basketball, like, more seriously when I was 13. And I moved out to my house and I went to an academy in Italy, in Bassano and I spent there three years and, after that, I moved to Spain, in Barcelona and I was there since then.”

“When I was in Bassano, I used to practice with older guys and, you know, I would feel good, I would feel, I would want to improve every day, every single day. So, then, when I went to Barcelona and, my first season, I started to play well with the main team and, to practice with them? That’s when I really started to think about being a professional basketball player,” Sarr said.

Sarr, from a family of immigrants, now comes to the United States after his family originally came to Europe from Africa. He leaves behind his parents and three siblings to follow his career on the court.

“My mom and my dad, they were born in Senegal and they moved to Italy. My dad moved to Italy in 1992 and my mom came over in 2004. And, so, my sister was born in 2005, my oldest sister. I was born in 2006. And my two younger brothers, one was born in 2010 and the other one in 2017 so they’re 14 and 8 now. So, yeah,” said Sarr. “My sister always has been part of my journey. She was coming to my games, recording my games with my dad. And then now, my two younger brothers, they’re looking up to me a lot so I try to inspire them a lot, for sure.”

Sarr is a Top-150 recruit and a three-star prospect out of FC Barcelona according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. On3, though, rated him higher at No. 17 overall and as the No. 5 SG, which made him a four-star prospect in 2025. With him, as well as the recent reclassification and commitment of Sebastian Wilkins, Duke has the No. 1 recruiting class according to On3’s 2025 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Sarr has come a long ways across the pond to continue his basketball career. Much will now be expected of him to after his committing to Duke over other top college programs in his international recruitment.