Duke basketball: Grading each Blue Devil through three games

Grading Duke basketball senior Jordan Goldwire through three games

Last season as a Duke basketball junior, Jordan Goldwire shared ballhandling duties with Tre Jones and started 15 of 31 games, finishing with averages of 4.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals across 24.1 minutes per outing while shooting 48.7 percent from the field, including 35.4 percent from three.

Yes, it’s early, but compare those above numbers to Goldwire’s stats as a senior in Durham: 6.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.3 steals across 27.3 minutes per outing while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three.

All in all, the evidence suggests that Goldwire, who has started all but one game this season, has taken another step forward in his ever-encouraging development as a Blue Devil.

Goldwire has been on the floor for more than half of all three games. He’s scored in every game. He’s committed no more than three turnovers in any game. He’s come away with at least two steals in each game. And he was the only source of hope for Duke down the stretch in the Michigan State game. Plus, he’s now hit three of his last four attempts from beyond the arc.

True, the former three-star prep out of Georgia displays his fair share of limitations, especially as a creator on offense. Therefore, Goldwire’s double-digit scoring efforts will probably be few and far between, and the ones he does pull off are likely to be in the 10-point range, like the one he had versus the Spartans.

But all things considered, no one can deny that Goldwire is a legit leader and a staunch defender who is always working to improve his grade as a player…

The grade for Jordan Goldwire through three games: 85 (B)