The top five freshman seasons in Duke basketball history

Best seasons by a Duke basketball freshman: No. 3 Marvin Bagley III

In his first and only year as a Blue Devil, Marvin Bagley III became the most efficient offensive force in the ACC and one of the most talented prospects in Mike Krzyzewski’s recruiting history.

One thing about Bagley that made his playing style special was his hardworking energy, especially along the baseline. He was never satisfied unless each of Duke’s possessions resulted in points on the board.

Of course, you can say that about any player, but if you go back and watch Bagley’s freshman year highlights, it will consist of mostly second-chance tips and back-to-back rebounds until he could score for his team.

This energy is the reason Bagley averaged a double-double throughout his entire season. Over 33 games, he averaged 21.0 points and 11.1 rebounds in one of the most impressive freshman seasons in Duke history.

In addition to his consistent performances throughout the 2017-18 season, he broke a conference record that he still holds today. With a 30-point, 11-rebound double-double against Wake Forest, Bagley became the ACC record holder for the most 30-point, 10-rebound double-doubles in a single season (he finished with seven such outings).

For his impactful energy and hard work, he was named both the ACC Rookie and Player of the Year. Following Duke’s loss in the NCAA Tournament, Bagley decided to take his talents to the league and declare for the NBA Draft. He later became the second overall pick.