Duke freshmen Jaemyn Brakefield spoke with the media today about his game.
Please visit our friends at Carolina Blitz who provided the download. Photo - Robin Lunn
Category Archives: Duke Basketball
Jalen Johnson ACC Rookie of the Week
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke freshman Jalen Johnson has been named the ACC Freshman of the Week coming off a record-setting performance in his college debut on Saturday.
In the Blue Devils' season-opening win over Coppin State, Johnson scored 19 points, grabbed 19 rebounds, had five assists and blocked four shots in 35 minutes. The Milwaukee, Wis., native became the first Duke player in history to post a stat line of 19+ points, 19+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 4+ blocks in a game. He finished the game a perfect 8-of-8 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line, setting a Duke freshman record for the most points in a game with 100-percent shooting.
Johnson joined Wisconsin's Ethan Happ as the only power conference players in the last 10 years with 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 4+ blocks in a game. Through games played on Nov. 28, Johnson's 19 boards are the most by any freshman in a game nationally this season. His rebound total marked the third most ever by a Duke freshman, while his 15 defensive rebounds set a Blue Devil rookie record.
He became just the third Duke freshman to post a double-double in a debut game, joining Jason Williams (13 points, 10 rebounds) vs. Stanford on Nov. 11, 1999 and Marvin Bagley III (25 points, 10 rebounds) vs. Elon on Nov. 10, 2017.
Over the last six-plus seasons, Duke has had an ACC Freshman of the Week in 62 of a possible 126 weeks. Johnson becomes the 16th Blue Devil to have won the award at least once in that time.
No. 6 Duke (1-0) returns to action when it hosts No. 8 Michigan State (2-0) on Tuesday, Dec. 1 in the State Farm Champions Classic at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
A Trio of Blue Devils Taken in NBA Draft
BRISTOL, Conn. – Three Duke men's basketball players – Vernon Carey Jr., Tre Jones and Cassius Stanley -- were selected Wednesday night during the 2020 NBA Draft, marking the fourth consecutive year with three or more Blue Devils drafted.
The selections of ACC Freshman of the Year Carey Jr., by the Charlotte Hornets (32nd pick), ACC Player of the Year Jones by the San Antonio Spurs (41st) and ACC All-Freshman Stanley by the Indiana Pacers (54th), Duke now boasts 100 all-time draft picks, including 67 coming under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The Jones’ selection by the Spurs with the 41st pick comes 20 years after Chris Carrawell, who is a Duke assistant coach, was also drafted by the Spurs with the 41st pick (2000). Both Jones and Carrawell were ACC Player of the Year that year.
The Blue Devils joined Kentucky and Arizona as the only college programs with three players selected during the 2020 NBA Draft.
Duke has had at least one player selected in 33 of the 40 drafts under Krzyzewski, including at least one in 10 consecutive drafts. In that span since 2011, 27 Blue Devils have been drafted. Coach K's 41 first-round selections remain a Draft record.
The 2020 NBA Draft was originally scheduled for June in New York City, but was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and held virtually in the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn.
Duke Draft Notes
• Duke has produced a total of 100 NBA Draft picks all-time.
• Head coach Mike Krzyzewski has coached a total of 67 NBA Draft picks since taking over the Duke program in 1980-81.
• The Blue Devils have had at least one player selected in 21 of the last 23 NBA Drafts.
• Duke has had at least one player taken in 33 of the 40 NBA Drafts in the Coach K era.
• Duke's streak of producing a top-3 pick in the NBA Draft was ended after six years. It stands as the longest streak by a college program in the history of the draft.
• Carey becomes the second Duke player drafted No. 32 overall, joining Daniel Ewing (2005, Los Angeles Clippers).
• Jones becomes the third Blue Devil selected No. 41 overall, joining Erik Meek (1995, Houston) and Duke assistant coach Chris Carrawell (2000, San Antonio).
• Stanley becomes the first Blue Devil to be taken No. 54 overall.
• Carey is the third Blue Devil selected by the Charlotte Hornets franchise, joining Gerald Henderson (12th overall in 2009) and Frank Jackson (31st overall in 2017).
• Jones is the fourth Blue Devil drafted by the San Antonio Spurs franchise, joining Gene Banks (28th overall in 1981), Johnny Dawkins (10th overall in 1986) and Carrawell (41st overall in 2000).
• Stanley is the third Duke player selected by the Indiana Pacers franchise, joining Thomas Hill (39th overall in 1993) and Miles Plumlee (26th overall in 2012).
Early Tip-Off Times Announced
DURHAM, N.C. -- In conjunction with the Atlantic Coast Conference and its TV partners, Duke men's basketball has announced a selection of early season game times and TV networks.
The Blue Devils are scheduled to open the 2020-21 season on Wednesday, November 25 versus Gardner Webb. That game will tip at 8 p.m. ET on ACC Network. Three days later, Duke welcomes Coppin State on Saturday, November 28 for a 2 p.m. ET start on ACC Network Extra.
For the two games in the Mako Medical Duke Classic Honoring Dr. Onye E. Akwari, the Blue Devils host Bellarmine on Friday, December 4 (7 p.m. ET on RSN) and Elon on Sunday, December 6 (12 p.m. ET, ACC Network).
Duke's December 12 game versus Charleston Southern tips at 8:30 p.m. ET on ACC Network.
Game times and TV for the State Farm Champions Classic versus Michigan State (Tuesday, December 1) and the ACC/Big Ten Challenge against Illinois (Tuesday, December 8) have not yet been announced.
Johnson Shines in Duke Scrimmage
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke men's basketball team continued its preseason competition with another closed instrasquad scrimmage Friday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
With benches socially-distanced and a number of other COVID-19 protocols, the Blue Devils were split into two teams of seven and competed for two halves – the first being 15 minutes and the second increased to 20. Both halves began with no score on the board.
Both units were efficient in the early going, as each committed just one turnover through the first six minutes of the scrimmage. After trading points through the first portion of the frame, the White team went on a 17-3 run to open up a 27-17 advantage with 4:40 left in the half. The Blue squad would respond with a late 9-2 surge to pull it back to within three, but a balanced scoring effort that saw six different players get on the board helped the White team claim the opening period, 35-29.
Senior Jordan Goldwire and freshman Henry Coleman III netted eight points each to pace the White team's scoring output in the first half, followed closely by seven points from both graduate student Patrick Tapé and freshman DJ Steward. Goldwire was the team's main facilitator as well, dishing out five assists with no turnovers.
Freshman Jalen Johnson came out of the gates aggressive for the Blue team, scoring seven points in the first five minutes of play. The Milwaukee, Wis., native finished the period with nine points and five rebounds.
The second half proved to be a tightly contested affair that came down to the final possession. After the White team built a 21-12 advantage in the opening minutes, the Blue team fought back with a 12-2 run capped off by a Tapé layup to reclaim its first lead since 5-2. Neither side would hold a lead greater than five points the rest of the way, with each team exchanging baskets down the stretch. Physicality played a major role in the half, as the White team finished with a 24-22 advantage in points in the paint.
Freshman Mark Williams gave the White team a four-point lead with 46 seconds remaining, but his basket was quickly answered with a Wendell Moore Jr., layup to bring the deficit back to two. The Blue team had one last opportunity with six seconds left, but a steal by Steward closed out the 40-38 win for the White squad.
Johnson's hot start on the offensive end led to a 25-point performance on 11-of-25 shooting over the two periods. He also brought in nine rebounds and recorded three assists on the night. Goldwire finished with a game-high seven dimes to go along with 19 points, while Steward posted 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. Fellow newcomer Jaemyn Brakefield added 11 total points on 4-of-8 shooting with seven boards.
Similar to last Friday's scrimmage, both teams shot well from the free throw line, combining for a 14-of-16 (.875) mark in the second half and a 22-of-28 (.786) clip for the entire game. From the floor, the Blue and White team combined to go 55-of-110 for a .500 shooting percentage.
Duke's next appearance in Cameron Indoor Stadium will be for its season-opening matchup with Gardner Webb on Nov. 25.
Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin Jr. Sign LOI’s for Duke
The Duke Blue Devils inked two outstanding recruits to letters of intent today when Paolo Banchero and AJ Griffin Jr made it officially know that they will ball in Durham.
Both prospects are pretty amazing where Banchero is gunning to be the top-rated player in his class while Griffin is ready to ascend as well. Both prospects have been top ten ranked players in their class since early on in their careers.
Banchero attends O'Dea High School in Seattle, Washington. He is of Italian descent and he is a beast of a power forward.
Griffin is a White Plains, New York (Archbishop Stepinac) product who committed to Duke early on so there has not been as much hype around him of late. But Griffin is a 6-7 five-star stud who should thrive during what will likely be a brief stint in Durham.
The Blue Devils staff is still involved heavily with Trevor Keels and Patrick Baldwin and possibly others before they finish what is ecpetef to be another banner class.