Caleb Foster, Jared McCain, and Mark Mitchell, three teammates in 2023–24 Duke basketball, made up about a fifth of the college players at the Nike Skills Academy in Portland, Oregon, which was exclusive to invitees.
This time around, not even Cooper Flagg, the nation’s top-ranked rookie and expected one-and-done phenom, is a Blue Devil on the 15-deep college roster. Taking place from Monday through Thursday, the camp features a combination of elite college and high school players who are learning from active and retired NBA players through scrimmage action and other drills, all in front of NBA scouts.
Maybe the reason Flagg and fellow five-star Duke basketball freshman forward Isaiah Evans aren’t there this year is because they were there as preps the previous year. But in 2023, a few invited collegiate players were present as preps, such as Drake Powell, a freshman forward from UNC.
It’s probable that the Blue Devils turned down any invitations to the Nike Skills Academy, even though they are now back on campus and ready to welcome back five-star freshman center Khaman Maluach after his Olympic experience with South Sudan.
They seem to be completely focused on team-building activities in Durham, after all:
While there aren’t any current Duke basketball players in Portland, there may be one or more prospective Blue Devils among the 22 prep players participating.
Four of Jon Scheyer’s top 2025 targets are in this group: five-star forward Nate Ament of Highland School in Virginia; five-star guard Brayden Burries of Eleanor Roosevelt High School in California; five-star forward Jalen Haralson of La Lumiere School in Indiana; and five-star forward Caleb Wilson of Holy Innocents Episcopal School in Georgia.
Additionally, five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr. from Paul VI Catholic High School in Virginia and five-star guard Brandon McCoy Jr. from St. John Bosco High School in California are the two early beneficiaries of 2026 Duke offers.
Further Breaking: Duke Basketball News Duke Newcomer Sion James: “Everything We Need Is There” The Dutch sharpshooter Duke Junior Tyrese Proctor Observes ‘Fast-Paced Offense’ Developing as the Blue Devils Secure Official Visit
54 minutes were published. Previously
Matt Giles
MAT GILES
Matt Giles covers the Duke Blue Devils and UNC Tar Heels for SI.com. He is the editor and publisher of Blue Devil Country and All Tar Heels on FanNation.
Schedule for basketball: Date; Match; Resultant opponent: NCAA Division I, National Championship 23/24; Sunday, March 31 vs.
(11) Wolfpack Fri, Mar 29 @ 76 – 64
(1) Cougars W 54-51 on Sunday, March 24 vs
(12) Dukes W 93-55 Friday, March 22 against.
(13) Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament 23/24 Thursday, March 14 against. Catamounts W 64-47
Wolfpack 23/24 Regular Season 23/24 Saturday, March 9 versus.
(4) Tar Heels Mon, Mar. 4 @ L 84-79
Wolfpack W 79-64 on Sat., Mar. 2 against
Cavaliers W 73-48 on Wed, Feb. 28 against
Cardinals W-59 84
Saturday, February 24 at
Football Schedule Date Opponent Result NCAAF Regular Season 24/25 Saturday, September 14 vs. Demon Deacons L 83-79
Canines
Friday, September 6, 3:00 PM
Wildcats at. Phoenix, 6:00 PM Friday, August 30; 3:30 PM
Birmingham Bowl 23/24 Saturday, December 23 versus.
Trojans W 17 – 10
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The all-time leading scorer in Duke basketball is in a unique position to mentor the current sensation in Durham.
Writer: Matt Giles | August 1, 2024
Duke guard for basketball J.J. Redick
Duke guard for basketball JJ Redick / Dianat Pouya
Ferry Danny. Laettner, Christian. J.J. Redick. Allen Grayson. There are additional. But those are some of the well-known Duke basketball players, who are probably the most hated by rival fan bases, and who may have the best understanding of what Cooper Flagg is about to go through as the star player for the Blue Devils.
ALSO READ: Ace Flagg, a Duke recruiting prospect, announces his transfer
However, Redick—who continues to lead the program in points (2,769)—stands out from the others in that group in terms of his first-year experience as Durham’s star player. Before it mattered most in April, Allen played sparingly alongside the cast of higher-ranked rookies from the 2014–15 national champions. Ferry’s rookie squad included Johnny Dawkins & Co., Laettner’s had Ferry.
It’s fitting, then, that Flagg mentioned his recent conversation with 40-year-old Redick, a former 15-year NBA sharpshooter who is starting his first season as a head coach and doing so under the spotlight with the Los Angeles Lakers, during the projected one-and-done lottery pick’s interview with sophomore guard and host Caleb Foster on this week’s episode of The Brotherhood Podcast.
“JJ Redick came to talk to the team, and he kind of just talked about the noise we’re going to get this year and how we just have to be able to block it out,” the forward, who was only 17 years old, recalled telling Foster. “And he explicitly told me that I would always receive the most amount.
“So, I think just being able to adapt to that and just kind of like take it all in, that type of advice was just really good to hear.”
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