Duke Basketball: Stock up, stock down after first Canadian game
Duke Basketball is back and although it only has been one game, we take a look at the players that most improved their stock, along with the players who hurt their stock in the first contest.
Stock Up:
Zion Williamson – Coming into Duke, the world knew about Zion Williamson for his highlight reel dunks going viral on social media.
While that held true against Ryerson University on Wednesday night, he showed the world he can do so much more.
Williamson exploded for 29 points, making 13 of his 23 shots and draining three of four shots from three point range, an element of Williamson’s game that was not highlighted in high school due to his dominance down low.
The six-foot-seven-inch freshman was also able to pull down a team high13 rebounds as well as dishing out four assists and committing zero turnovers in 33 minutes of action.
Williamson was also able to block two shots and grab two steals in his stellar Duke debut.
Duke fans will be thrilled at what they saw from Williamson on Wednesday night and should be giddy to see him grace the floor once again.
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R.J. Barrett – It was the homecoming for the Mississauga, Ontario native and there were clearly some nerves to begin, but Barrett settled in very quickly.
Barrett led the Blue Devils with 34 points in 35 minutes, the most of any Blue Devil. Barrett also finished with five rebounds and two assists.
One downside of the Canada native’s night was that he did take 30 shots and only made two of eight attempts from three point range, but without Cam Reddish, Tre Jones, and virtually Alex O’Connell, Barrett and Williamson should get most of the shot attempts.
With his first game out of the way and the jitters of playing in front of his family and friends also gone, Barrett should be much more efficient and loose on Friday evening.
Barrett has the chance to be a very special player in what looks to be his very short time with the Duke Blue Devils.
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Javin DeLaurier – DeLaurier quietly had a very good and efficient game for the Duke Blue Devils on Wednesday night.
Javin DeLaurier finished with eight points and 11 rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
After playing very rarely in his freshman year and coming off the bench in a sixth man role last season, DeLaurier cracked the starting lineup against Ryerson University.
The hustle and energy that Javin DeLaurier brings to the Blue Devils on the floor should be inspiring to the fellow freshman that will receive a lot of minutes and are experience the college basketball game for the first time.
DeLaurier made four of his six shot attempts, missing his lone shot from beyond the arc.
Of DeLaurier’s 11 rebounds, five of them came at the offensive end, a testament to the junior’s hustle and energy.
It’s not a guarantee that DeLaurier will be in the starting five once the regular season rolls around, but he will have a major role on this Duke Blue Devil basketball team and his energy should be contagious.