Duke basketball freshmen have a knack for sensational slams versus Clemson.
In a January 2019 blowout of Clemson, Duke basketball one-and-done forward Zion Williamson pulled off what became his most memorable dunk as a Blue Devil.
ALSO READ: Zion Williamson’s mark trails only Michael Jordan
Williamson’s wide-open fastbreak 360 that day, following his steal at halfcourt, also marked arguably the most fantastically ridiculous air time, period, in Cameron Indoor Stadium history.
The highlight is always worth another look for Duke basketball fans:
Another rookie dunk entering Duke basketball lore
Fast forward two years and three weeks from Zion Williamson’s blown-roof exclamation point against the Tigers inside Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Even without fans on hand, early on in a 79-53 home blowout over Clemson (10-5, 4-5 ACC) on Saturday afternoon — the second straight win for Duke (7-5, 5-3 ACC) after a three-game road losing skid — projected one-and-done forward Jalen Johnson woke up the Zion echoes, not to mention leftover Cameron reverberations from Cassius Stanley last year, via pure posterization:
According to an instant-reaction tweet from the official account of the Duke basketball program, Johnson’s emphatic display over Clemson freshman forward PJ Hall — as with Williamson, it came as a reward for his swipe on defense — now officially belongs on the “Top 10 Coach K-era dunk in Cameron” list:
GOOD START AT THE CRIB
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) January 30, 2021
🤯 Top 10 Coach K-era dunk in Cameron by @Jalen_J23
🔒 Tigers --> 3-17 FG, 6 TO
😈 19-8 lead pic.twitter.com/tRUHp3ThP1
No doubt it will at least make the SportsCenter “Top 10 Plays” for Saturday.
After the game, Duke tweeted out the poster:
https://twitter.com/DukeMBB/status/1355593203412398082?s=20
Johnson was not one of the five Blue Devils who scored in double-figures this time out, but he did almost notch a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds to go along with five assists, two steals, and only one turnover. The 19-year-old from Wisconsin is now averaging 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in nine appearances this season.
Duke hits the road to face Miami (6-9, 2-8 ACC) at 7 p.m. Monday before hosting archrival UNC (11-5, 6-3 ACC) at 6 p.m. next Saturday.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham for more on Jalen Johnson plus other Duke basketball news and views.