Ball Durham
Fansided

Duke lacrosse star set to return to Blue Devils after uncertain future

By Kevin Connelly

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 05: JT Giles-Harris #2 of the Duke lacrosse team plays during a game against the Air Force Falcons on February 05, 2017 at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Air Force won 11-10. (Photo by Peyton Williams/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 05: JT Giles-Harris #2 of the Duke lacrosse team plays during a game against the Air Force Falcons on February 05, 2017 at Koskinen Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. Air Force won 11-10. (Photo by Peyton Williams/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Major news on the Duke lacrosse front as defenseman JT Giles-Harris will be returning to the Blue Devils in 2021.

The coronavirus pandemic has put a strain on all sports across the world, but perhaps none on spring college athletics and athletes.

Athletes are given the choice to return to their school for an extra year, transfer to a different school, or maintain their current eligibility status.

More from Ball Durham

Duke has received good news on all fronts after the transfer of All-American Michael Sowers from Princeton. The Blue Devils will retain one of their own in defenseman JT Giles-Harris.

US Lacrosse Magazine reported that it’s expected the 2019 ACC Defensive Player of the Year will utilize the option for his extra year of eligibility and stay at Duke for his final year at the school.

Giles-Harris was exploring the option of playing football at a different school because of a loophole in an NCAA rule that allows athletes to compete at their original schools where they were cut short of their final year of eligibility.

Football runs in the Giles-Harris family as JT’s brother, Joe, played football at Duke from 2015-2018 and now is a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

JT Giles-Harris also played football in high school and was considering playing the sport in college before he eventually decided on lacrosse, landing him in Durham.

ALSO READ: Blue Devils reportedly land top graduate transfer

The Nyack, New York native has stared at Duke since 2017, amassing 113 ground balls in his Duke career and scoring his first goal in a win over Furman on March 1.

Duke is also bringing in transfers Mike Adler from Saint Joseph’s, Dan O’Connell from Holy Cross, and Phil Robertson from Princeton while boasting the top recruit in the country, Brennan O’Neill.

ALSO READ: 10 names to know as Coach K eyes epic 2022 class

The 2021 season should be one to remember in Durham as head coach John Danowski will try and win the program’s fourth National Championship.

Home/Duke Blue Devils News