By: Derrien Hinton
August 14, 2023
Death, taxes and overreactions to Duke men’s basketball off-season content. Few things are as inevitable.
With a rare mix of proven returners and gifted newcomers, expectations couldn’t be higher for the upcoming Duke men's basketball season. In preparation for such an exciting season, the program has offered fans edited footage from summer scrimmages giving us bite-sized morsels to chew on until Countdown to Craziness on Oct. 20.
So, chew, we shall.
Here are five observations from the latest 5-on-5 scrimmage footage released on Aug. 10:
Schutt’s Confidence
Jaden Schutt’s freshman campaign at Duke wasn’t what we (and, likely, he) hoped it would’ve been. It was apprehensive, disconnected, and aimless in his limited time on the floor. If this footage is any indication, however, his sophomore season should see him being much more effective.
Schutt was very assertive: attacking closeouts, cutting backdoor, and displaying capability in transition - particularly with Tyrese Proctor alongside him. He was much more vocal and demonstrative, as well - indicating a boost in confidence. Even when he didn’t have the ball in his hands, he provided adequate spacing for driving lanes that Mark Mitchell and others took advantage of. If he can do these things against opposing teams, look for him to carve out a role in the rotation this year.
Foster’s Physicality
Caleb Foster is a BIG GUARD!
What has stood out in all of the footage that Duke has released this off-season is how Foster utilizes his physical gifts, to great effect. At 6-foot-5, 197 lbs., he seems physically mature and ready for college competition. He doesn’t get knocked off his spots, he can rebound and drive through traffic, he has a good handle in transition and has the ability to make the right play — whether it’s finding the open shooter or taking the ball to the basket himself.
Easy’s Development
Last season, Mark “Easy” Mitchell showed his ability to be a defensive juggernaut, but a limited offensive threat. With a slow, flat release on his jumper and a tendency to get into trouble when driving into traffic or in the open-floor, Mitchell had moments where he struggled to find offensive consistency. He also missed the final game of Duke’s season last year due to a knee injury.
In this practice footage, Easy seems to be back and better than ever. Confidently shooting outside shots, avoiding charges in transition, and finishing at the rim through contact. I am interested to see his development as a playmaker as the season gets closer. If he can avoid tunnel-vision when handling the ball and make effective reads, that adds another dimension to both this team and his draft profile.
Ryan Young in Pick and Roll
Okay, Okay — l know, we all jumped out of our seats watching Ryan Young drain three’s in previous videos. In this scrimmage tape, though, Young displayed what has made him so effective thus far in Durham: his work down low.
It is so intriguing how much of an unconventional threat he is in the pick and roll. He has great hands, solid decision-making and so much creativity in the paint that defenses have to respect him. When he runs to the rim, he’s not a lob-threat, but he still puts pressure on the defense because of his knack for creating space, his array of post-moves, quick decision-making and the ability to finish with either hand.
With playmakers like Proctor, Roach, Foster and McCain — Young can be highly effective in the pick and roll... or, even, pick and pop? Maybe?
Where is TJ Power?
TJ Power was the No. 16 ranked prospect in the Class of 2023 according to 247Sports’ Composite Rankings. While many overlooked him throughout his recruitment, Head Coach Jon Scheyer has told Power that he wants him to compete hard for a spot in the rotation. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had many highlights in these off-season scrimmage videos. Power’s reputation as a knock-down shooter with high playmaking IQ from the wing is something this team could use, but we haven’t seen it as of yet. While I don’t think this is a cause to be concerned, for Duke to be at its best, Power will need to become a factor.
Let’s face it, college basketball is a major adjustment and some players take longer than others to make that adjustment. These are also heavily edited highlights and they don’t reflect Power’s development, nor how effective he may be this season. My hope and expectation is that he can and will help this team win games this year.
These glimpses into Duke’s scrimmages are confirming what fans have been hoping to see: a variety of players that show signs of contributing significantly to Duke’s season. With the quality of depth and obvious camaraderie of this year’s team, perhaps Duke can add one more inevitability to the list: a sixth National Championship Banner.
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