The best Duke basketball starting lineup without Jalen Johnson

The ideal Duke basketball starter at the three for now: Jaemyn Brakefield

Of all the Duke basketball players in town, one could argue that Jaemyn Brakefield has shown the most pride while on the floor, particularly during the middle of the second half in the loss to Michigan State, when he assertively found scoring opportunities from both inside and outside the arc while passionately chasing after rebounds and loose balls.

However, of the eight Blue Devils who have started at least one game this season, the 6-foot-8, 215-pound combo forward from Mississippi isn’t one of them. That should now change for Brakefield, who has yet to play more than 18 minutes in a game but is averaging 21.9 points per 40 minutes, with fellow freshman combo forward Jalen Johnson out of commission.

Not only does Brakefield give Duke another seemingly trustworthy ballhandler and reliable trigger from downtown — 6-for-11 from 3-point land thus far — but he also has the strength, motor, and overall wherewithal to battle in the paint.

In other words, though Brakefield is not quite the same caliber of athlete as Johnson, he has the tools to serve in a similar role and has demonstrated enough talent and inner fire to snag the starting job in his place.