The Duke Blue Devils lost a plethora of talent to the NBA Draft. From Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel to Khaman Maluach, Sion James and Tyrese Proctor, they will have a tough time getting past those absences.
Fortunately, it seems like they will have their defensive stalwart right back on the court for the start of the season, as Maliq Brown could make his long-anticipated return sooner than expected.
Brown, who missed 13 games last season because of a left shoulder injury and wasn’t a factor in March Madness, is ahead of schedule in his recovery, says coach Jon Scheyer.
Maliq Brown is ahead of schedule
“Maliq is weeks ahead of schedule from his surgery, where he’s at,” Scheyer said. “He dislocated his shoulder twice and you have to be really cautious with that. He won’t do contact still for another 4-8 weeks, but he can do everything 5-on-0. He’s shooting, he’s handling, he’s passing. Just seeing him out there is great.”
Head coach John Scheyer of the Duke Blue Devils.
The 6-foot-9 senior forward will be the Blue Devils’ longest-tenured and most experienced player, not to mention their defensive anchor, so having him back on the court will be a huge boost.
He averaged just 2.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in 26 games last season, but his ability to guard multiple positions and defensive prowess were a big factor in this team’s success.
