DURHAM, N.C. – Duke junior Mason Plumlee will return for his senior season in 2012-13, head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced on Tuesday. Plumlee, an Academic All-America selection in 2012, has collected 769 points, 726 rebounds and 147 blocks in 105 career games (64 starts) as a Blue Devil.

“I am really excited about my decision to come back,” said Plumlee. “What it came down to was the people here and the relationships that I have developed. I feel like this is the best place for me to improve and that is one of the most important things to me. Also the way we ended last year is not the way I want to end my career at Duke.”

Last season, Plumlee averaged 11.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game en route to earning third team All-ACC accolades. He was one of four players in the ACC to average at least 10.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. Plumlee finished tied for third in the ACC in rebounding and also ranked third in double-doubles (12) and double-figure rebounding games (16).

Plumlee also ranked second on the team in field goal percentage (.572, 143-of-250), while registering a Duke single-season record 60 dunks. The Warsaw, Ind., native led the team in rebounding 21 times last season and 45 times during his career. Duke is 88-17 (.838) over the last three seasons with Plumlee in the lineup.

“Mason had a very good year for us and we are excited to have him back for his senior season,” said Krzyzewski. “He is a terrific talent that has improved every year. We look forward to watching him continue to grow and develop as a player and as a leader. Mason has the ability to contend for ACC Player of the Year and All-America honors next season.”

With the return of Plumlee, the Blue Devils are expected to have nine letterwinners and four starters back from last year’s team that went 27-7 overall and 13-3 in the ACC. Duke will also have redshirt freshmen Alex Murphy and Marshall Plumlee as well as incoming freshman Rasheed Sulaimon in the fold for the 2012-13 season. Plumlee will pair with fellow rising senior Ryan Kelly to give Duke an experienced frontcourt tandem that combined to average 22.9 points, 14.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game a season ago.

Plumlee currently ranks 20th in the Duke record books in career rebounds (726), 13th in offensive rebounds (229), fifth in blocks (147) and fourth in dunks (130). He is 231 points shy of becoming the 61st player in Duke history to score 1,000 career points and 275 rebounds shy of becoming just the eighth Blue Devil to grab 1,000 rebounds.