Duke basketball has added to it’s roster from transfer after seven departures

Following the departure of seven players from the Duke basketball team via the transfer portal, Jon Scheyer has made his inaugural addition to revitalize the roster, selecting a player familiar with ACC competition.

Syracuse forward Maliq Brown declared his commitment to the Blue Devils on Saturday following a recent visit to Duke. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, Brown played two seasons for the Orange, showing continuous improvement in his performance during his sophomore year. He averaged 9.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game while shooting an impressive 69.8 percent from the field. Brown has started 25 out of his 61 career games.

Although not known for his prowess from beyond the arc, Brown is actively working on developing his three-point shot. In his freshman year, he did not attempt any three-pointers, but this year he made 7 out of 19 attempts, shooting at a 36.8 percent accuracy rate.

This season, Maliq Brown showcased remarkable efficiency by making 73.6 percent of his 2-point shots.

Bringing a much-needed physical presence to the Blue Devils’ roster following recent departures, Brown is no stranger to Cameron Indoor Stadium. In a standout performance against Duke in January, he scored a career-high 26 points on 11-of-16 shooting, along with grabbing seven rebounds.

Recognized for his defensive prowess, Brown was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team this season, making history as the first center to lead the conference in steals per game.

Originally from Culpepper, Virginia, Brown was a 3-star recruit ranked No. 247 nationally by 247Sports. Despite offers from Georgetown, NC State, and St. John’s, he ultimately chose Syracuse.

While it remains uncertain whether Brown will start next season for Duke, he is expected to play a significant role, thanks to his versatility, under the leadership of Jon Scheyer.

With two returning players, Tyrese Proctor and Caleb Foster, and six incoming freshmen, led by Cooper Flagg, Duke now has four scholarships available to utilize in the transfer portal.