Duke basketball associate head coach Jon Scheyer updated the health of its freshman forward.
The bad news of the preseason for the Duke basketball team came a few weeks ago when heralded freshman forward AJ Griffin suffered a sprained right knee injury in practice.
Griffin, who has dealt with many injuries in his career thus far, was set to be a vital piece of the Blue Devils this season with his raw athleticism and size.
Duke had the positive news that the New York native would only be out about 2-4 weeks, and it seems as if the 6-foot-6 forward is on the shorter end of that timetable.
In addition to video emerging of Duke practices that show AJ Griffin on the court, associate head coach Jon Scheyer updated the recovery timetable of Griffin on The Field of 68 podcast.
ALSO READ: Duke freshman already breaks Blue Devil record
“AJ is progressing way ahead of schedule. He has been attacking his rehab every single day,” Scheyer said.
TOP 50 COUNTDOWN: No. 15 @DukeMBB may have the best player in college basketball in Paolo Banchero, but as @JonScheyer and @Dre_Dawkins can attest, there is so much more on this roster. POWERED by @BetRivers https://t.co/MUn1NxKRCX
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 28, 2021
Griffin entered Duke as the No. 17 player in the Class of 2021 and No. 5 small forward in his class, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
“I can’t say yet when he’s going to be back, but I can tell you that he’s moving and looking really good.”
Duke basketball forward has not played in a game since January 2020
In a high school game in January 2020 during AJ Griffin’s junior year, he suffered a dislocated left knee that kept him out for the remainder of the season.
Granted, Griffin might have been able to return for the New York postseason had it not been for the coronavirus pandemic shutting down the season.
New York then had a spring basketball season the following year, which Griffin opted out of due to a minor ankle injury as well as training on his own for the college game.
ALSO READ: Duke thinks it has the best player in the country
“This is not anything that’s going to impact him longterm. I feel we’ll see him back sooner rather than later,” Scheyer explained.
Adrian Griffin Jr. is currently projected as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, according to Bleacher Report.
No. 9 Duke opens the season against No. 10 Kentucky on November 9 at Madison Square Garden in the State Farm Champions Classic.