Maximizing the one 12 months of Cooper Flagg is of utmost significance for Duke. It is began within the switch portal. Jon Scheyer did not hit the 2024 portal cycle searching for a star. Flagg, the ballyhooed, No. 1 recruit within the Class of 2024 and a candidate for No. 1 general within the 2025 NBA Draft, will match the invoice.
Returning sophomore Caleb Foster is predicted to make a significant soar, and getting level guard Tyrese Proctor again for Yr 3 was important.
However Duke desperately wanted veteran position gamers to improve a supporting solid that may look far totally different in 2024-25 after multi-year starters like Jeremy Roach and Mark Mitchell hit the switch portal.
Duke did simply that, reeling within the ACC’s best-rated switch haul, per 247Sports. Let’s dive into the scouting studies and practical expectations for every of Duke’s switch additions
PF Maliq Brown, from Syracuse
Anticipated position: Doubtless starter, frontcourt rotation
Excellent multi-positional defender who could be even higher now that he isn’t guarding some bruiser 5s. Everybody desires to be a switch-everything defender, however Brown really is one. He’ll assist douse so many fires, and his reducing and playmaking off the short-roll might be an enormous asset to Duke’s offensive assault. Brown is such an elite position participant.
G Sion James, from Tulane
Anticipated position: Wing rotation, potential starter
James is one other elite position participant who Jon Scheyer neatly has added to this rotation. James doesn’t miss video games and he barely got here off the ground at Tulane. He isn’t some sharpshooter, however 39% on 81 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers will play. He makes defenses pay for leaving him open. But it surely’s all of the little issues that make James a stud. He is a superb defender who is totally chiseled. He can hound shooters, huge wings or lead guards whereas offering just a little secondary rim safety, too. James won’t begin however he will carve out a significant position for Duke.
PF Mason Gillis, from Purdue
Anticipated position: Frontcourt rotation
If Gillis will get his toes set for a catch-and-shoot trey, neglect about it. The veteran Purdue switch benefited from all the eye on Zach Edey and drilled 46% of his 122 catch-and-shoot treys. That is just about his complete sport offensively when he isn’t crashing the glass for putbacks. He is actually helpful in “Spain” pick-and-rolls as a result of he is so bodily and can make contact, however in case you neglect about him, he is fast to get behind the road, sq. his shoulders and hearth a triple. Gillis is one other rock-solid, crew defender with actual, high-major dimension at 6-foot-6 and 225 kilos. Gillis, like James, places his time within the weight room.
Duke additionally landed Rice switch Cameron Sheffield, who redshirted after a foot harm final season. Sheffield supplies depth behind Duke’s prized wing corps however faces an uphill climb to enjoying time.