Duke basketball coach [autotag]Jon Scheyer[/autotag] keeps using the words “compete” and “tough” to talk about his vision for the 2024-25 Blue Devils. He praised [autotag]Cooper Flagg[/autotag], the top prospect in the country, for how hard he plays. But what exactly does Scheyer mean when he says stuff like that?
During a Monday episode of The Devil’s Den podcast, Scheyer broke down what he looks for in a basketball player and how he defines a competitor behind the scenes.
“For me, when I think about competitiveness or toughness, I think about somebody who wants to do it every single day,” Scheyer said. “Not just depending on the game, not just when the lights come on, but does somebody show up every single day.”
Scheyer brought up [autotag]Jared McCain[/autotag]’s work ethic a lot during the Philadelphia guard’s freshman season, so it’s safe to assume he’s been a shining recent example of this work ethic. The third-year Duke coach also thinks his older players, from returners Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor to his new transfers, show those same qualities.
“They’ve been incredible,” Scheyer said about his two returning guards. “They’ve been great with looking themselves in the mirror, things they can do better…they’re hungry, ready to go, but I think those three guys from the portal really provide that as well, Mason (Purdue transfer Mason Gillis) in particular.”