Duke Basketball Player Review: Jordan Goldwire bursts into vital role

Jordan Goldwire surged in his sophomore season, being elevated from the backup point guard to a vital piece in the success of the Duke basketball team.

Toward the end of his sophomore season, Jordan Goldwire started to see an increase in minutes due to his defensive prowess, since the 2018-19 Duke basketball squad already had the offensive punch of Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cam Reddish.

Fast-forward one year and a bigger role was the expectation for Goldwire, but no one knew how much more he would play since his offensive game remained a work in progress.

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Well, Goldwire might have shown the most improvement throughout the course of the season, going from a role player to a relied-upon starter who helped create one of the best defensive backcourts in the country with Tre Jones.

The junior guard played in all 31 games for the Blue Devils, starting 15, and averaged 4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from 3-point range.

While the 6-foot-2 guard is known for his defense, some of the standout offensive performances he put forth this year were jaw-dropping for him, including tying a season-high 13 points in a win over then-No. 8 Florida State, going 5-of-5 from the field and making all three of his 3-point attempts.

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As Jones is leaving Duke early for the NBA Draft, Goldwire will likely serve as the backup point guard to incoming freshman point guard Jeremy Roach, but the rising senior could be called into action should the Blue Devils need a defensive stand or to face-guard the opposing team’s best player.

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As all four captains will not be returning to Durham next season, the senior Goldwire could be in line to be named as a captain for the 2020-21 season, truly a remarkable story for the No. 398 ranked recruit in the 247 Sports Composite Rankings.