Grades for each Duke basketball player thru 6 games

7. Duke basketball forward Theo John

• 3.5 points per game
• 3.5 rebounds per game
• 0.8 assists per game
• 0.7 steals per game
• 0.8 blocks per game
• 0.8 turnovers per game
• 9-for-16 from the field (56.3 percent)
• 0-for-1 beyond the arc (0.0 percent)
• 3-for-4 from the foul line (75.0 percent)
• 15.8 minutes per game

Theo John is the prototypical junkyard dog. Fortunately for the Duke Blue Devils, the 6-foot-9, 240-pound grad transfer must have spent most of his 23 years on this planet in the weight room, thereby providing the program with what it sorely lacked last season: an experienced grown-man muscleman.

Even though his intimidating stature and emotions don’t always reflect in the box score, John remains vital to Duke’s success against Gonzaga and here on out. As the only legit inside force on the bench, there’s no telling how many times his bullish moves, loud defensive stops, aggressive rebounds, monster screens, and veteran energy will aid the Blue Devils at critical junctures.

Grade: 83 (B)